Photo of Big Muddy River: U.S. Department of Agriculture, CC0 1.0
Fishing times todaySolunar periods, sunrise and moonrise for Jackson County, today and the next 7 days.Best fishing times today
Jackson County, Illinois
Sizing up the water in Jackson County
Murphysboro is the county seat of Jackson County, and the 2020 Census found 52,974 people living in the county. The IDNR fishing map files the county's loaner sites under the IDNR fishing map's Southern Illinois grouping.
Among 10 lake pages for the county, Kinkaid Lake spreads over the most acres. Within the county, IDNR data shows 19 public launches. 40 stocking rows in the IDNR table name county water since 2021.
10lake pages
19IDNR launches
2river pages
40stocking rows
Census 2020 population; IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody pages and map; IDNR lands asset inventory (2019); IDNR stocking table; read November 4, 2026.
Map
IDNR launches and lakes of Jackson County, plotted
IDNR IFishIllinois map launch points, IDNR asset inventory piers and IFishIllinois page points; read November 4, 2026.
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.
Which fish the lake pages near Jackson County mention
A count of nearby lake pages (to 50 miles from Murphysboro) puts bluegill first.
Bluegill79 lakes
Largemouth bass75 lakes
Channel catfish71 lakes
Redear sunfish37 lakes
Black crappie15 lakes
Saugeye10 lakes
Flathead catfish7 lakes
Hybrid striped bass6 lakes
Muskellunge5 lakes
Rainbow trout5 lakes
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.
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).
Access
State and park ramps in Jackson County
Burning Star – Blazer Lake Boat RampBlazer Lake (Burning Star), IDNR note: gravel ramp
Burning Star – Island Lake Boat RampIsland Lake (Burning Star), IDNR note: gravel ramp
Burning Star – Long Lake Boat RampLong Lake (Burning Star), IDNR note: concrete ramp
Kinkaid Lake Port of Ava Canoe/Kayak LaunchKinkaid Lake, IDNR note: Canoes and kayaks only
Kinkaid Lake Sharp Rock Falls Canoe/Kayak LaunchKinkaid Lake, IDNR note: Canoes and kayaks only
Lake Murphysboro Concessionaire Boat RampLake Murphysboro, IDNR note: Concrete ramp
There are 12 boat docks 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 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.
Regulations
Daily and length rules covering Jackson County
Site-specific entries override the statewide rows on the Jackson County waters they name. Residents spend $15 on a year of fishing here, and anglers from away spend $31.50.
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
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
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.
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
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 Jackson County (9)
Water
Species
Rule as printed (code numbers kept)
Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds
Recreational Use Restrictions
Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (all use other than waterfowl hunting prohibited from November 1 through February 28/29; except fishing is permitted in designated areas at Island Lake and Long Lake from one half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m.)
Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)
Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish
25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds
Channel Catfish
6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds
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; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 5 Fish less than 14 inches
Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds
White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie
25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area
Recreational Use Restrictions
Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)
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
Carbondale City Reservoir
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Carbondale City Reservoir
Large or Smallmouth Bass
15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Cedar Lake & Little Cedar Lake
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)
Cedar Lake & Little Cedar 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; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 5 Fish less than 14 inches
Cedar Lake & Little Cedar Lake
Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass
17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Cedar Lake & Little Cedar Lake
White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie
25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Giant City State Park Ponds
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Giant City State Park Ponds
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish
15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Giant City State Park Ponds
Channel Catfish
6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Giant City State Park Ponds
Largemouth Bass
15 inch Minimum Length Limit
Kinkaid Lake
All Fish
All live bait greater than 8 inches must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)
Yellow Pages, chain store and IDNR license vendor listings; guide and charter association pages (matched by the waters they list or their county), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR data shows 19 launches, starting with Burning Star – Blazer Lake Boat Ramp.
Which Jackson County water is the widest?
Kinkaid Lake, at 2,750 acres by the IDNR listing.
Which fish do Jackson County lakes hold, per IDNR?
Bluegill tops the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by largemouth bass, channel catfish and redear sunfish.
Which Jackson County stores carry fishing tackle?
2 shops, starting with Frank's Real Bait Shop.
Where are loaner rods in Jackson County?
IDNR lists 5 loaner sites here, starting with Carbondale Public Library in Carbondale.
Which Illinois town holds the Jackson County county clerk?
Murphysboro is the seat.
Is a license required on Jackson County lakes?
Residents spend $15 on a year of fishing here, and anglers from away spend $31.50.
Which counties surround Jackson County?
The nearest county pages are Perry County, Union County and Williamson County.
Do any Jackson County waters have site-specific rules?
The digest lists 9 site-specific entries for waters in or by this county, starting with Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds; the table above shows each.
What does the stocking table show for Jackson County?
The IDNR table carries 40 rows; the newest lists 2,799 Striped Bass, Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") (2026) in Cedar Lake – Jackson.
Did an Illinois record fish come out of Jackson County?
Black Crappie x White Crappie, 4 lbs 8.8 oz, March 28, 2017 (hook and line), from Kinkaid Lake.
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