Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) Fishing
One of the IDNR lake pages for St. Clair County.
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Beaver Lake (PRKFWA), measured out for Illinois anglers
The lake Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) lies in St. Clair County; the IDNR page gives conflicting sizes, so we print none. Supplies are closest in New Athens, about 2 miles by straight line.
The IDNR launch layer marks 2 boat ramps at this water. The digest names it among the site-specific waters.
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. IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
IDNR page details for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- Location (IDNR)Beaver Lake is located within Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area which is located 0.5 miles east of New Athens off Old Highway 13 and Nuernberger Road.
- Description (IDNR)Some 1800 acres of the 2000-acre site of Peabody River King were donated to the IDNR by the Peabody Coal Company in 1994. Peabody Coal had mined the area from the late 1950s through the late 1980s. Beaver Lake is a 332-acre strip pit lake with maximum depths approaching 60-80 feet. This lake has many cuts and fingers that provide great habitat for sportfish along with quick drop-offs and shallow transition …
Facilities IDNR checks off at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessNo
- Boat FishingYes – 10 HP limit and no wake for motors over 10 horsepower
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingNo
- PicnickingNo
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
Everything above is IDNR wording for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA).
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR-rated fish swimming in Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Sauger | Fair | Sauger have been stocked consistently the past 10 years in Beaver Lake however they rarely show up in our fish surveys. Anglers have reported catches of quality sized Sauger in Beaver Lake. |
| Crappie spp. | Good | Anglers report catching good numbers of crappie over of the 9-inch minimum length limit. |
| Largemouth Bass | Very Good | This lake has a very good bass population. We collected 100 Largemouth Bass per hour of electrofishing in 2024. This was great to see after previous surveys showed a declining trend in bass/hr numbers (51 in 2019, 47 in… |
largemouth bass earn a very good rating from IDNR at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA).
IDNR sources tie these fish to Beaver Lake (PRKFWA): outlook, stocking or a record.
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, 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; IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
For the sauger herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The fishery record of Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- IDNRThe IDNR Division of Fisheries routinely monitors the status of the fishery of Beaver Lake. Currently fish electrofishing surveys are conducted every year to assess the fishery. Recent stockings include supplemental stocking of Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and Sauger. Because of its close proximity to the Kaskaskia River, Beaver Lake can become connected with the river during high flood events. Because of …
- Other species and hybrid groups recently collected in surveys include Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, Grass Carp, Silver Carp, Gizzard Shad, Green Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Yellow Bass, White Bass, Freshwater Drum, Flathead Catfish, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin, Shortnose Gar and Spotted Gar.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Getting a boat into Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
Backup launches if the Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) lot is full
- Teal Lake Boat Ramp on Willow Lake (PRKFWA)Willow Lake (PRKFWA), 2 miles southwest
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Stocking at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Largemouth Bass | 8,301 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Sauger | 19,951 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | 6,640 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 8,341 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Sauger | 16,359 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
IDNR lists these releases for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) by year; it publishes no stocking dates.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Fish allowed in the cooler at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
| Species group | Daily limit | Statewide 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 |
Statewide limits hold on Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) except where its own entry differs.
Site-specific rules for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; bow fishing is allowed
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 9 inch Minimum Length Limit; 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Site-specific regulations on the IFishIllinois page, as printed, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. IDNR license fees (ifishillinois.org), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR record weights from Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
| Species | Weight | Division | Date | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redear Sunfish | 3 lbs 1.1 oz | hook and line | May 19, 2018 | Grundy |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois lakes clustered around Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
For more room, Baldwin Lake has 2,018 acres on its IDNR page.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) | not printed | 2 | Sauger | ||
| Eagle Lake (PRKFWA) | under a mile southeast | 101 | 0 | Muskellunge | |
| Willow Lake (PRKFWA) | 1 mile southwest | 7.0 | 2 | ||
| Baldwin Lake | 9 miles south | 2,018 | 4 | Blue Catfish | |
| Derby Lake (World Shooting Complex) | 12 miles southeast | not printed | 1 | Channel Catfish | |
| RV Lake (World Shooting Complex) | 12 miles southeast | not printed | 0 | Bluegill |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Near Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
A second lake for the day after Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- Eagle Lake (PRKFWA)under a mile southeast
- Willow Lake (PRKFWA)1 mile southwest
- Baldwin Lake9 miles south
- Derby Lake (World Shooting Complex)12 miles southeast
- RV Lake (World Shooting Complex)12 miles southeast
Stores with hooks and line around Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- Obie's Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Belleville, 14 miles
- Dan & Neats Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Waterloo, 17 miles
- Old Whiskers Bait Cobait and tackle shop, O Fallon, 18 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors O Fallonsporting goods store, O Fallon, 19 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Fairview Heights, 6575 North Illinois Streetsporting goods store, Fairview Heights, 19 miles
- Fairview Sports & Hardwarebait and tackle shop, Fairview Heights, 20 miles
Free loaner rods within reach of Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- Smithton LibrarySmithton, 10 miles
- Mascoutah Public LibraryMascoutah, 11 miles
- O'Fallon LibraryO'Fallon, 17 miles
- Trenton Public LibraryTrenton, 20 miles
Town bases for anglers near Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
- New Athens2 miles
- Marissa7 miles
- Freeburg8 miles
Each county Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) touches, with links
- St. Clair Countyseat: Belleville
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun reels to stow in the truck for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
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The ponds and rivers around Beaver Lake (PRKFWA), photographed
Photo: tofu nutloaf, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: nearly almost, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Before the tackle box goes in the car for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
Where in Illinois is Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)?
Beaver Lake is located within Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area which is located 0.5 miles east of New Athens off Old Highway 13 and Nuernberger Road. Head for St. Clair County, about 2 miles from New Athens.
What size does IDNR list for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)?
We show no size; the IDNR numbers do not match.
Does Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) have a ramp on the IDNR layer?
Use Beaver Lake Boat Ramp or another of 2 boat ramps.
How is the fishing at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)?
IDNR rates sauger fair; its sources also name largemouth bass and redear sunfish.
What can I take home from Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)?
Statewide digest row for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass: Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. The same row adds a separate rule for rivers and streams, quoted in the limits band. Check the site-specific rows above as well.
Which IDNR license goes in my wallet at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Did IDNR inventory a fishing pier at Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)?
Its IDNR facility line reads Family Friendly No; Handicap Access No, with no inventoried pier.
Which counter near Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) keeps a minnow tank?
Head to Obie's Tackle Co, about 14 miles away,.
Has Beaver Lake (PRKFWA) produced a state record?
Redear Sunfish at 3 lbs 1.1 oz (hook and line division, May 19, 2018) is the heaviest entry IDNR lists for Beaver Lake (PRKFWA); IDNR prints no angler names.
Plan a morning on Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)
Know what goes in the cooler before you launch.