Big Lake (RLFWA) Fishing
IDNR files this lake under Fulton County.
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Sizing up Big Lake (RLFWA)
In Fulton County you will find Big Lake (RLFWA), a lake whose IDNR acreage is left off here for a mismatch. IDNR writes that it bottoms out near 24 feet. Banner lies roughly 3 miles off, the handiest Census place.
Its limits differ from the statewide table in places.
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.
From the IFishIllinois page on Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Location (IDNR)Located in Central Illinois, the Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area lies adjacent to the Illinois River, 4 miles south of Banner, Illinois, along Route 24 in Fulton County.
- Description (IDNR)The Big Lake section of the Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is a very shallow backwater of the adjacent Illinois River.
- More from IDNRCurrently, Duck Island Main Lake is connected directly to Big Lake. Due to the annual inundation of Big Lake and then Rice Lake by the Illinois River and summer water level drawdown for moist soil plant management, fish species management on this small scale is a difficult objective. The associated sedimentation, loss of lake water volume, annual introduction of carp species and the loss of aquatic plants have …
Amenities on the IDNR page for Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessNo
- Boat FishingYes
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
The rows above quote the IDNR page for Big Lake (RLFWA).
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR survey ratings for Big Lake (RLFWA)
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | Average | Channel Catfish can be found at a moderate density during high water events on the adjacent Illinois River. |
| Buffalo spp. | Good | All of the buffalo species are present in a moderate density at this site. |
| Gar spp. | Good | Shortnose, Longnose and Spotted Gar are common at this site. |
| Common Carp | Good | Common Carp can be found at a moderate density during high water events from the adjacent Illinois River. |
Each species named here comes from the IDNR page, the stocking table or the record list for Big Lake (RLFWA); it is not a creel count.
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 catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 What past IDNR work found at Big Lake (RLFWA)
- IDNRThe Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Black Crappie populations had been collected at good densities with good body condition ratings until 2012 and then decreased through 2013. In 2016 thru 2019, their levels have increased and reflected an improvement. From 2021 thru 2024 the Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass numbers have all decreased, while White Crappie numbers have remained consistently low.
- The buffalo, Common Carp and invasive carp populations continued to be present at high densities and selectively sampled due to the high biomass that was present during sampling.
- In 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016 thru 2023 both Grass Carp and Silver Carp were sampled.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Concrete and gravel ramps on Big Lake (RLFWA)
No launch for Big Lake (RLFWA) is on the IDNR map, so the closest mapped ramps are listed.
Other ramps when Big Lake (RLFWA) is crowded
- Spring Lake (South) Boat RampSpring Lake (South), 1 mile southeast
- Spring Lake (North) Boat RampSpring Lake (South), 3 miles east
- Johnson Lake – Banner Marsh Boat Ramp on Lake 29 (Banner Marsh)Lake 29 (Banner Marsh), 6 miles northeast
- Skyranch Boat Ramp on Spring Lake (North)Spring Lake (North), 6 miles northeast
- Thompson Lake – Emiquon Boat RampThompson Lake (Emiquon), 12 miles southwest
- Powerton Lake Boat RampPowerton Lake, 13 miles northeast
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Bag and length rules posted at Big Lake (RLFWA)
| 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 |
At Big Lake (RLFWA) a site-specific digest line beats the statewide row.
Local digest rules for Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Boat fishing is not allowed during the waterfowl hunting season and the week preceding it. Bank fishing is allowed year-round in the vicinity of the Complex headquarters. Bank and boat fishing are also allowed year-round on Duck …
- Recreational Use Restriction: Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (see above)
- All Fish: Sport fisherman may harvest carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears from May 1 through August 31
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 12 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 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.
Big Lake (RLFWA) set beside other downstate lakes
Rice Lake covers the most water in this group: 1,383 acres by IDNR.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake (RLFWA) | not printed | 24 | 0 | Channel Catfish | |
| Rice Lake | 1 mile west | 1,383 | 1 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Duck Island Main Lake (RLFWA) | 2 miles southwest | not printed | 24 | 0 | Channel Catfish |
| Spring Lake (South) | 2 miles east | 610 | 2 | ||
| Shovel Lake (Banner Marsh) | 3 miles northeast | not printed | 1 | Bluegill | |
| Spring Lake (North) | 5 miles northeast | not printed | 2 | Muskellunge |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Around the Big Lake (RLFWA) shoreline
Other lakes an Illinois Tollway exit or two from Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Rice Lake1 mile west
- Duck Island Main Lake (RLFWA)2 miles southwest
- Spring Lake (South)2 miles east
- Shovel Lake (Banner Marsh)3 miles northeast
- Spring Lake (North)5 miles northeast
Buy bait on the way to Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Tall Timbers Marinamarina, Havana, 14 miles
- J & J Riverside Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Pekin, 15 miles
- Presleys Outdoorssporting goods store, Bartonville, 18 miles
- Hosss Hawg Baitbait and tackle shop, Elmwood, 21 miles
- Bass Pro Shops East Peoriasporting goods store, East Peoria, 23 miles
- Detweiller Marinamarina, Peoria, 25 miles
IDNR loaner tackle close to Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Havana Nature CenterHavana, 13 miles
Prairie State towns that sit near Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Manito8 miles
- Canton9 miles
- Lewistown13 miles
Illinois counties along Big Lake (RLFWA)
- Fulton Countyseat: Lewistown
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun picks ahead of a trip to Big Lake (RLFWA)
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A photo field guide to Big Lake (RLFWA) fish
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Craig Chew-Moulding, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Eden, Janine and Jim, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Big Lake (RLFWA): what Prairie State anglers want settled
Which Illinois county is Big Lake (RLFWA) in?
Located in Central Illinois, the Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area lies adjacent to the Illinois River, 4 miles south of Banner, Illinois, along Route 24 in Fulton County. You will find it in Fulton County, about 3 miles from Banner.
How much surface does Big Lake (RLFWA) have by IDNR count?
The IDNR acre figures disagree, so none is given, and the IDNR text gives a 24 foot maximum depth.
How many IDNR-mapped ramps touch Big Lake (RLFWA)?
Nearest mapped ramp: Spring Lake (South) Boat Ramp, 1 mile.
What does IDNR say is biting at Big Lake (RLFWA)?
IDNR rates channel catfish as average; common carp also appear in its sources.
Does Big Lake (RLFWA) have special regulations?
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. Its own digest entry sits in the limits band too.
Does a visitor need a license at Big Lake (RLFWA)?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Can a bank caster do well at Big Lake (RLFWA)?
The IDNR flags say Family Friendly No; Handicap Access No; no pier is on its asset list.
Which Illinois tackle counter is nearest Big Lake (RLFWA)?
Tall Timbers Marina, about 14 miles away, tops the shop list.
Take the county blacktop out to Big Lake (RLFWA)
Every 2026 fee and limit is a click away.