Photo of Crab Orchard Lake: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Fishing times todaySolunar periods, sunrise and moonrise for Williamson County, today and the next 7 days.Best fishing times today
Williamson County, Illinois
Fishing Williamson County by the numbers
The 2020 Census tallied 67,153 residents in Williamson County, whose courthouse stands in Marion.
Of the 5 paged lakes reaching the county, Crab Orchard Lake is biggest. IDNR counts 15 public launches for the county across its map and 2019 inventory. Stocking trucks show up in 26 stocking rows of the 2021-2026 IDNR table for the county.
5lake pages
15IDNR launches
1river pages
26stocking rows
Census 2020 population; IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody pages and map; IDNR lands asset inventory (2019); IDNR stocking table; read November 4, 2026.
Map
Where the Williamson County ramps and piers sit
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.
Lake pages around Williamson County, tallied by fish
Bars show lake pages within 50 miles of Marion that list each fish; bluegill leads.
Bluegill80 lakes
Largemouth bass76 lakes
Channel catfish74 lakes
Redear sunfish36 lakes
Black crappie16 lakes
Saugeye9 lakes
Flathead catfish6 lakes
Hybrid striped bass5 lakes
Rainbow trout5 lakes
White bass5 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.
More water
Lakes of Williamson County without their own guide yet
A further 1 named waters of Williamson County appear only in this list.
One timed reading per gauge, copied at build time.
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
Trailer ramps scattered over Williamson County
Arrowhead Lake Boat RampArrowhead Lake, IDNR note: Concrete ramp, gravel parking, dock
Crab Orchard Lake Bluegill Bay Marina Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: open to campers and members, dock and fishing piers; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake Foreville Road RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: paved ramp and parking, dock, fishing pier; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake North Refuge Rd Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: gravel ramp, gravel parking; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake Old 13 Boat Ramp and Kayak LaunchCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: kayak access, gravel parking SE of ramp; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake Playport Marina Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: open to campers, dock; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake Prairie Creek Access Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: paved ramp and parking, dock, fishing pier and levee; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake Spillway Road Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: concrete ramp, small gravel parking; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake West End Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: paved ramp and parking, dock; user pass required
Crab Orchard Lake Wolf Creek Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, IDNR note: gravel ramp, small paved parking lot; user pass required
Devils Kitchen Lake Kayak and Canoe LandingDevils Kitchen Lake, IDNR note: Gravel landing, gravel parking; user pass required
Devils Kitchen Lake Line 13 Boat RampDevils Kitchen Lake, IDNR note: Paved ramp, paved parking; user pass required
Devils Kitchen Lake Line 6 Boat RampDevils Kitchen Lake, IDNR note: Gravel ramp, gravel parking; user pass required
Devils Kitchen Lake Main Boat RampDevils Kitchen Lake, IDNR note: Paved ramp, gravel parking, dock; user pass required
Herrin Lake 1 Boat RampHerrin Lake 1, IDNR note: Paved ramp, gravel parking
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
Digest limits as they apply in Williamson County
Waters of Williamson County follow the statewide rows below unless the digest lists them as a site-specific water. An Illinois resident pays $15 for the annual sport fishing license, a nonresident $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
Digest exceptions inside Williamson County (4)
Water
Species
Rule as printed (code numbers kept)
Arrowhead Lake
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Arrowhead Lake
Channel Catfish
6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Arrowhead Lake
Large or Smallmouth Bass
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 15 inches; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 15 inches and 2 fish less than 12 inches
Arrowhead Lake
White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie
15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Recreational Use Restrictions
Fishing is permitted year-round from sunrise to sunset only
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish
25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Channel Catfish
6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Large or Smallmouth Bass
16 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit CRAB ORCHARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-LITTLE GRASSY LAKE U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Williamson
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Channel Catfish
6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Large or Smallmouth Bass
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 15 inches CRAB ORCHARD NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-RESTRICTED USE AREA PONDS (EXCEPT SEE HONKER’S AND VISITOR’S PONDS) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Williamson
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Recreational Use Restrictions
Fishing is permitted from March 1 through October 15, both dates inclusive, from sunrise to sunset only
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish
25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Channel Catfish
6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
Large or Smallmouth Bass
16 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Visitor’s Pond
Recreational Use Restrictions
Fishing is permitted year-round from sunrise to sunset only
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Visitor’s Pond
All Fish
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Visitor’s Pond
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Local help
Where Williamson County anglers buy tackle
Williamson County bait shops
Dunn's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Marion
Just Add Water Bait Tackle & Morebait and tackle shop, Marion
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.
For the white bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 
Pick for white bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 
