Fishing in Coles County, Illinois
County seat: Charleston. Population 46,863.
- 7lake pages
- 5IDNR launches
- 1river pages
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Sizing up the water in Coles County
Charleston is the county seat of Coles County, and the 2020 Census found 46,863 people living in the county. The IDNR fishing map files the county's loaner sites under the IDNR fishing map's Central Illinois grouping.
Among 7 lake pages for the county, Charleston Side Channel Lake spreads over the most acres. Within the county, IDNR data shows 5 public launches. Without a boat, 1 fishing pier on the IDNR inventory are an option. 37 stocking rows in the IDNR table name county water since 2021.
Census 2020 population; IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody pages and map; IDNR lands asset inventory (2019); IDNR stocking table; read November 4, 2026.
IDNR launches and lakes of Coles County, plotted
IDNR IFishIllinois map launch points, IDNR asset inventory piers and IFishIllinois page points; read November 4, 2026.
Ponds and lakes scattered across Coles County
| Lake | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (IDNR text) | Kind | Launches | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | 317 | 12 ft | lake | 1 | largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill |
| Lake Paradise | 138 | 16 ft | lake | 1 | channel catfish, white crappie, largemouth bass |
| Charleston Lower Channel Lake | 58 | lake | 1 | ||
| Oakland City Lake | 33 | 8 ft | lake | 1 | channel catfish |
| Coles County Airport Lake | 20 | 7 ft | lake | 0 | channel catfish |
| Ridge Lake (FRSP) | 15 ft | lake | 0 | walleye, channel catfish | |
| Campus Pond (Coles County) | 1 | pond | 0 | rainbow trout |
Acres as listed on the IDNR IFishIllinois page (printed only where the page text gives the same size); depth only where the IDNR text states a maximum depth. Launch counts from the IDNR map and 2019 inventory; acres left blank where the IDNR page text disagrees with its listing.
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A count of nearby lake pages (to 50 miles from Charleston) puts channel catfish first.
IDNR fishing outlook ratings, species named on IFishIllinois pages, the IDNR stocking table and state records, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Creek and slough fishing in Coles County
- Kaskaskia RiverIFishIllinois page, 10 IDNR-mapped ramps, 11 USGS gauges
More current across Coles County (1)
- Little Embarras Riverriver
Live streamflow in Coles County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia River At Cooks Mills, Il | 9 cfs, 1.38 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDNR IFishIllinois river and pool pages, USGS GNIS names, IDNR map launches and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 4, 2026.
Forecast-service gauges near Coles County
| Gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia River at Cooks Mills | 1.41 ft | 0.0144 kcfs | not defined | 2026-11-05 18:30:00 UTC |
| Whitley Creek near Allenville | 2.22 ft | 0 kcfs | not defined | 2026-11-05 18:30:00 UTC |
| Embarras River (IL) near Camargo | 3.68 ft | 0.0384 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 18:15:00 UTC |
| Kaskaskia River below Ficklin | 2.35 ft | 0.0178 kcfs | not defined | 2026-11-05 18:15:00 UTC |
Snapshot readings only, each with its UTC time; live USGS data sits on the river pages.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
State and park ramps in Coles County
- Paradise Lake Boat RampLake Paradise, IDNR note: City boat sticker required to launch/boat on lake
- Charleston Lower Channel Lake Boat RampCharleston Lower Channel Lake, launch
- Charleston Side Channel Lake Boat RampCharleston Side Channel Lake, launch
- Embarras River Lake Charleston Dam Tailwater Boat RampEmbarras River, launch
- Oakland City Lake Boat RampOakland City Lake, launch
Piers and shoreline spots in Coles County
- Wilderness Pond Handicap Fishing Pier on Ridge Lake (FRSP)fishing pier, IDNR site: Fox Ridge
There are 1 boat dock on the IDNR asset list too.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026. IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR stocking rows from Coles County
| Year | Water | Species (as listed) | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Campus Pond (Coles County) | Rainbow Trout | 280 | Adult |
| 2026 | Campus Pond (Coles County) | Rainbow Trout | 277 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 17,640 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Coles County Airport Lake | Channel Catfish | 800 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Oakland City Lake | Channel Catfish | 1,160 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Lake Paradise | Channel Catfish | 6,640 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Lake Paradise | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 8,820 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Campus Pond (Coles County) | Rainbow Trout | 443 | Adult |
| 2025 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 6,210 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 18,550 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Coles County Airport Lake | Channel Catfish | 800 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Oakland City Lake | Channel Catfish | 1,166 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2025 | Lake Paradise | Channel Catfish | 6,640 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Lake Paradise | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 9,275 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Ridge Lake (FRSP) | Walleye | 553 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 13,930 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 16,686 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Coles County Airport Lake | Channel Catfish | 480 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Oakland City Lake | Channel Catfish | 596 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Lake Paradise | Channel Catfish | 3,984 | Adult |
| 2024 | Ridge Lake (FRSP) | Channel Catfish | 336 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Ridge Lake (FRSP) | Walleye | 700 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 12,636 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 13,720 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Coles County Airport Lake | Channel Catfish | 800 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2023 | Oakland City Lake | Channel Catfish | 1,160 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2023 | Lake Paradise | Channel Catfish | 6,640 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2023 | Lake Paradise | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 7,084 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Ridge Lake (FRSP) | Channel Catfish | 600 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2022 | Charleston Side Channel Lake | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 14,910 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026; rows reach the county through the water they name.
Tackle stops in counties next to Coles County
- Lake Mattoon Marinamarina, Neoga, 18 miles
- Sullivan Marina & Campgroundmarina, Sullivan, 23 miles
- Leprechaun Landingbait and tackle shop, Windsor, 27 miles
- Findlay Marinamarina, Findlay, 28 miles
- Lithia Springs Marinamarina, Shelbyville, 31 miles
Yellow Pages, chain store and IDNR license vendor listings; straight-line miles from Charleston.
Daily and length rules covering Coles County
Site-specific entries override the statewide rows on the Coles County waters they name. Residents spend $15 on a year of fishing here, and anglers from away spend $31.50.
| Species | Daily limit | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | 1 per 24 hours | Harvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours. |
| Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Other Sunfish | no limit | There are no harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie) | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Lake Sturgeon | no possession | Protected; No possession. |
| Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass | 6 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio (including Golconda Marina), and Wabash Rivers, the d |
| Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and their Hybrid | muskellunge 1, northern pike 3 | All Muskellunge and Muskellunge hybrids (Tiger Muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. No more than 1 Muskellunge or Muskellunge hybrid (Tiger Muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified u |
| Paddlefish | 2 | Daily harvest limit is 2 Paddlefish. Please refer to Site Specific Regulations for the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa and the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri. |
| Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids | no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer | There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17" in total le |
| Trout and Salmon | 5 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate. |
| Walleye, Sauger, or their Hybrid | 6 (combined) | All Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid (Saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. Daily harvest limit is 6 Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid, either |
Where limits change in Coles County (14)
| Water | Species | Rule as printed (code numbers kept) |
|---|---|---|
| Campus Lake – Southern Illinois University | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Campus Lake – Southern Illinois University | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Campus Pond – Eastern Illinois University | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Campus Pond – Eastern Illinois University | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Campus Pond – Eastern Illinois University | Trout | Fall Closed Season (7), Spring Closed Season (8) |
| Charleston Lower Channel Lake | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2) (5) |
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5) |
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 14 inch Minimum Length Limit |
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie | 20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish less than 10 inches and 10 Fish greater than or equal to 10 inches |
| Coles County Airport Lake | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Coles County Airport Lake | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Coles County Airport Lake | Large or Smallmouth Bass | Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 14 inches and less than 18 inches; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 2 Fish less than 14 inches |
| Fox Ridge State Park | Recreational Use Restrictions | Waterfowl Hunting or Refuge Area |
| Hurricane Pond | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Hurricane Pond | Bluegill or Redear Sunfish | 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Hurricane Pond | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Hurricane Pond | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area – Doza Creek | Recreational Use Restrictions | Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12) |
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois record fish tied to Coles County
No IDNR record names Coles County; these record waters are inside 70 miles.
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldeye | hook and line | 2 lbs 1 oz | Embarras River | July 26, 1998 |
| Freshwater Drum | hook and line | 38 lbs 4 oz | Clinton Lake | May 24, 2018 |
| Flathead Catfish | hook and line | 81 lbs 6.4 oz | Sangchris Lake | Aug. 26, 2015 |
| Striped Bass | hook and line | 31 lbs 7 oz | Sangchris Lake | May 23, 1994 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Borrowing a rod in Coles County
- Charleston Public Library712 S. Sixth Street, Charleston, (217) 345-4720
- Ridge Lake Biological Station17211 Ridge Lake Road, Charleston, (217) 345-6469
Borrowers sign out a rod and tackle at no cost at each site on the IDNR list.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
A few miles of blacktop from Coles County
Towns in Coles County with a motel and a diner
- Charlestonpop. 17,286
- Mattoonpop. 16,870
Bordering counties of Coles County, with links
- Cumberland County17 miles south
- Douglas County17 miles north
- Moultrie County23 miles west
- Clark County26 miles southeast
Piscifun tackle to load up before Coles County
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Lakes and river bends close to Coles County, in pictures
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Denny Armstrong, CC BY 2.0
Photo: tofu nutloaf, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Nyttend, Public domain
Replies on fishing within Coles County
How many IDNR-listed ramps are in Coles County?
IDNR data shows 5 launches, starting with Paradise Lake Boat Ramp.
Which Coles County water is the widest?
Charleston Side Channel Lake, at 317 acres by the IDNR listing.
Which fish do Coles County lakes hold, per IDNR?
Channel catfish tops the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by bluegill, largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass.
Which Coles County stores carry fishing tackle?
The listings show no shop inside its line.
Where are loaner rods in Coles County?
IDNR lists 2 loaner sites here, starting with Charleston Public Library in Charleston.
Which Illinois town holds the Coles County county clerk?
Charleston is the seat.
Is a license required on Coles County lakes?
Residents spend $15 on a year of fishing here, and anglers from away spend $31.50.
Which counties surround Coles County?
The nearest county pages are Cumberland County, Douglas County and Moultrie County.
Do any Coles County waters have site-specific rules?
The digest lists 14 site-specific entries for waters in or by this county, starting with Campus Lake – Southern Illinois University; the table above shows each.
What does the stocking table show for Coles County?
The IDNR table carries 37 rows; the newest lists 17,640 Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye), Fingerling (1 – 3") (2026) in Charleston Side Channel Lake.
Pick a lake or creek in Coles County
Open a lake for its ramps and site rules.