Charleston Side Channel Lake Fishing
Coles County holds this 317-acre IDNR-listed lake.
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Charleston Side Channel Lake, the Prairie State snapshot
With 317 acres on the IDNR listing, Charleston Side Channel Lake is a lake in Coles County. The deepest spot IDNR mentions is 12 feet. Charleston is the nearest Census place, roughly 2 miles from the IDNR map point.
You can put in at 1 boat ramp on the IDNR map. The digest prints site-specific rules for it.
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.
Amenities IDNR lists at Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Location (IDNR)Charleston Side Channel Lake is located approximately 3 miles southeast of Charleston, just off Route 130 in Coles County.
- Description (IDNR)The lake covers 335 surface acres with a maximum depth of 12 feet and average depth of 5.7 feet. The lake is the primary water supply for the City of Charleston and is separated from the Embarras River by a dike that provides excellent shoreline access. Recreational opportunities include fishing and limited boating. Public boat launching facilities are available at no charge. There is a no-wake regulation in …
The IDNR amenity list for Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Family FriendlyYes
- Handicap AccessYes
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted, no wake entire lake
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsYes – Self-Serve Kayak Rental
- CampingNo
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
This band carries the IFishIllinois text on Charleston Side Channel Lake word for word.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
The IDNR outlook for Charleston Side Channel Lake
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Good | Largemouth Bass are moderate in abundance due to a lack of aquatic vegetation for nursery habitat. Bass from ½-3 lbs. are present with fish over 5 lbs. observed on occasion. Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) Very Good Saugeye… |
| Common Carp | Very Good | Common Carp are abundant with fish up to 27 inches and 9 lbs observed in recent surveys. Channel Catfish Improving Channel Catfish abundance is low due to a lack of natural recruitment. Spawning boxes have been placed… |
| Crappie spp. | Very Good | Both Black Crappie and White Crappie are very abundant. Growth rates vary drastically within this population. Anglers may catch crappie up to 14 inches and 1+ lbs. Anglers are encouraged to keep their limit of fish… |
| Bluegill | Average | Bluegill are abundant, with a few fish exceeding 8 inches. |
| Freshwater Drum | Fair | Freshwater Drum are moderately abundant. |
For Charleston Side Channel Lake, IDNR gives common carp a very good outlook.
Names above trace to IDNR for Charleston Side Channel Lake, not to angler reports.
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.
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- IDNRSaugeye (Walleye/Sauger hybrids) and Hybrid Striped Bass (Striped Bass/White Bass hybrids) are stocked annually by IDNR hatcheries.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR-mapped launches at Charleston Side Channel Lake
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Depth maps and contours for Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Charleston Side Channel LakeIDNR depth map
IDNR publishes 1 depth map for Charleston Side Channel Lake; open them from its IFishIllinois page.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Fish IDNR stocked in Charleston Side Channel Lake
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 17,640 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 6,210 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 18,550 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 13,930 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 16,686 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 12,636 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 13,720 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 14,910 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | 15,540 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
Rows for Charleston Side Channel Lake come from the IDNR stocking table, which gives the year but not the day.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois limits that apply on Charleston Side Channel Lake
| 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 |
Those statewide digest rows apply on Charleston Side Channel Lake wherever no site-specific line overrides them.
Digest regulations printed for Charleston Side Channel Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed (code) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
- Code 1Sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached (Alabama rigs not allowed) while fishing, except that legal size cast nets (in accordance with Section 810.50(a)(2)), shad scoops, and minnow …
- Code 5Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin and suckers by pitchfork, gigs, bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices.
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 21, 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.
Charleston Side Channel Lake among its neighbours
On size, Charleston Lower Channel Lake leads the nearby lakes at 58 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | 317 | 12 | 1 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Charleston Lower Channel Lake | under a mile south | 58 | 1 | ||
| Campus Pond (Coles County) | 2 miles northwest | 1.0 | 0 | ||
| Ridge Lake (FRSP) | 4 miles south | not printed | 15 | 0 | |
| Coles County Airport Lake | 7 miles west | 20 | 7 | 0 | |
| Toledo Reservoir | 14 miles south | 3.0 | 7 | 0 |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
An Illinois blacktop jaunt from Charleston Side Channel Lake
Lakes in the same corner of the state as Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Charleston Lower Channel Lakeunder a mile south
- Campus Pond (Coles County)2 miles northwest
- Ridge Lake (FRSP)4 miles south
- Coles County Airport Lake7 miles west
- Toledo Reservoir14 miles south
Filling the bait bucket near Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Lake Mattoon Marinamarina, Neoga, 19 miles
Tackle loaner sites near Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Charleston Public LibraryCharleston, 3 miles
- Ridge Lake Biological StationCharleston, 4 miles
- Mill Creek State ParkMarshall, 18 miles
- Lincoln Trail State Park- baitshopMarshall, 24 miles
Illinois towns close to Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Charleston2 miles
- Mattoon12 miles
- Casey14 miles
County guides linked to Charleston Side Channel Lake
- Coles Countyseat: Charleston
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun gear a Prairie State angler could stow for Charleston Side Channel Lake
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Telling the Charleston Side Channel Lake fish apart by photo
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Craig Chew-Moulding, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Straight replies on Charleston Side Channel Lake
How do I find Charleston Side Channel Lake on an Illinois map?
Charleston Side Channel Lake is located approximately 3 miles southeast of Charleston, just off Route 130 in Coles County. Its county listing is Coles County, about 2 miles from Charleston.
Is Charleston Side Channel Lake a large lake for Illinois?
IDNR gives 317 acres, and the IDNR text gives a 12 foot maximum depth.
Can I tow a bass boat to Charleston Side Channel Lake and launch?
IDNR maps one: Charleston Side Channel Lake Boat Ramp.
Which fish does IDNR list for Charleston Side Channel Lake?
The IDNR outlook gives largemouth bass a good; other fish listed include common carp, bluegill, freshwater drum, saugeye and hybrid striped bass.
How many black bass does the digest allow at Charleston Side Channel Lake?
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. The limits band adds this water's digest entry.
Is an Illinois license required at Charleston Side Channel Lake?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Where can I bank fish at Charleston Side Channel Lake?
No pier on file; IDNR flags Family Friendly Yes; Handicap Access Yes.
Can I get bait on the way to Charleston Side Channel Lake?
Our list starts with Lake Mattoon Marina, about 19 miles away,.
Pack the rods for Charleston Side Channel Lake
Fees, stamps and site rules sit on the license page.