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Fishing Report

The Rend Lake Fishing Report can be accessed every Friday, March through November on the Rend Lake Facebook Page.

Fishing Prospects and Regulations

Rend Lake is a fishing hot spot with over 30 fish species that are surveyed annually. With 162 miles of shoreline, over 20 boat ramps, and hundreds fish attractors, fishers of every skill level are sure to have a successful fishing experience

At normal pool (405.0 feet), Rend Lake has a surface area of 18,900 acres, a maximum depth of 35 feet, and a mean depth of 10 feet, sustaining healthy populations of many aquatic species. Below you can find information on popular sport fish at Rend Lake, provided by the Illinois Fisheries Biologist. 

Largemouth Bass fishing at Rend Lake should be average for 2020 based on survey catch rates. Largemouth bass populations at Rend Lake have been supplemented by a stocking program, and in the last ten years almost 397,000 bass fingerlings have been stocked. Large and Smallmouth Bass have a 14 inch minimum length limit at Rend Lake. 

Crappie fishing at Rend Lake is projected to be excellent for 2020. During the 2019 survey 93% of crappie caught were white crappie. White, black, or hybrid crappie have a 25 fish harvest limit daily, with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches in length. 

Bluegill fishing is projected to be good at Rend Lake for 2020, with most fish between 6.5" - 8 inches in length. 

Catfish surveys were lower for 2019 relative to previous years, likely due to unseasonably high air/water temperatures in the fall. It is projected that 1-3 pounds channel catfish should be abundant in 2020. All jugs must be attended at all times while fishing. 

 

 

 

 

 

Boating at Rend Lake