Clinton Lake Fishing
A lake in DeWitt County, 4,895 acres by IDNR.
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Sizing up Clinton Lake
Look for Clinton Lake in DeWitt County: a lake that IDNR sizes at 4,895 acres. IDNR writes that it bottoms out near 60 feet. De Witt lies roughly 1 mile off, the handiest Census place.
Boaters get 6 boat ramps from the IDNR map. Shore anglers can use 4 fishing piers on the asset list. 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 Clinton Lake
- Location (IDNR)Clinton Lake is located in DeWitt County 10 miles east of Clinton, IL.
- Description (IDNR)This 4,895-acre lake was constructed to serve as a cooling reservoir for the Clinton Nuclear Power Station. The lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. Various portions of the lake are designated as no-wake, electric motor only, or no boat areas for safety and security reasons. All IDNR ramps are now equipped with wheelchair accessible boat docks. There are 17 Class AA campsites …
- More from IDNR. Bowfishing is allowed on certain areas of the lake. All IDNR ramps are now equipped with wheelchair accessible boat docks.
Amenities on the IDNR page for Clinton Lake
- Family FriendlyYes
- Handicap AccessYes – All IDNR ramps are now equipped with wheelchair accessible boat docks
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingYes
- SwimmingYes
- Trout StockingNo
The rows above quote the IDNR page for Clinton Lake.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR survey ratings for Clinton Lake
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Excellent | The most recent survey resulted in a catch rate of 75.1 bass per hour and was below the management objective of 80 bass per hour. The average catch rate since 2011 is 90.2 bass per hour. There are good numbers of… |
| Walleye | Good | The catch rate for Walleye during the most recent survey was 4.3 Walleye per hour. The average catch rate since 2011 is 5.3 Walleye per hour. Of the Walleye collected over 10 inches, 62% were longer than 15 inches and… |
| Blue Catfish | Average | A catfish survey was conducted in the fall of 2018 to assess the stocking of Blue Catfish. Blue Catfish ranged in size from 9 inches to 29 inches. Blue Catfish have been stocked at a low rate into Clinton Lake since… |
| White Bass | Fair | The catch rate in the most recent survey was 5.1 White Bass per hour and was below the management objective of 10 to 20 White Bass per hour. See site regulation below. |
| Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Good | Hybrid Striped Bass were first stocked in Clinton Lake in 1978. During the last spring gill netting survey, Hybrid Striped Bass were collected at a rate of 12.3 per net. The average catch rate is 16.7 hybrids per net…. |
| Crappie spp. | Excellent | During the most recent survey, the catch rate for Black Crappie was 8.6 Black Crappie per hour and the catch rate for Blacknose Crappie was 0.6 per hour. The White Crappie catch rate during the most recent survey was… |
The best IDNR grade at Clinton Lake goes to largemouth bass: excellent.
Each species named here comes from the IDNR page, the stocking table or the record list for Clinton Lake; 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 walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 What past IDNR work found at Clinton Lake
- IDNRThe IDNR Division of Fisheries has been active in the management of the fisheries in Clinton Lake since the lake opened in 1979. The lake receives stockings of Walleye, Hybrid Striped Bass, Blue Catfish, and crappie.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Concrete and gravel ramps on Clinton Lake
- Clinton Lake Barefoot Cove Marina Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Clinton Lake Boat Ramp – West Side Day Use Accesslaunch
- Clinton Lake Mascoutin Boat Ramplaunch
- Clinton Lake North Fork Boat Ramplaunch
- Clinton Lake Parnell Access Boat Rampconcrete ramp
- Clinton Lake Weldon Access Boat Rampconcrete ramp
Bank fishing spots on Clinton Lake
- Route 10 Cove Fishing Pier on Clinton Lakefishing pier, IDNR site: Clinton Lake
- Parnell Boat Access Area on Clinton Lakefishing pier, IDNR site: Clinton Lake
- Mascoutin Fishing Pier on Clinton Lakefishing pier, IDNR site: Clinton Lake
- Clinton Lake Sra Fishing Pierfishing pier, IDNR site: Birkbeck
Other ramps when Clinton Lake is crowded
- Weldon Springs Boat RampWeldon Springs, 7 miles southwest
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.
Tie-up docks and fillet stations at Clinton Lake
- Boondocks Grill & Bait Boat Dockboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Parnell Boat Access Areaboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Weldon Boat Accessboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- North Fork Boat Dockboat dock, near Birkbeck
- North Fork Canoe Accessboat dock, near Birkbeck
- Clinton Lake Boat Dockboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Clinton Lake Boat Dockboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Clinton Lake Boat Dockboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Mascoutin Boat Dockboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Mascoutin Boat Dockboat dock, near Clinton Lake
- Fish Station Fish Cleaning Stationfish cleaning station
- North Fork Fish Cleaning Stationfish cleaning station, block/steel roof
- Weldon Boat Access Areafish cleaning station
These Clinton Lake entries are IDNR assets as inventoried in 2019, not a current service list.
IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.
Mapped depths at Clinton Lake
- Clinton LakeIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake DamIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake DeWitt BridgeIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake MarinaIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake Mascoutin State ParkIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake North ForkIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake Parnell AccessIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake Route 10 Shore FishingIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake Weldon AccessIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake West SideIDNR depth map
- Clinton Lake Wetland AreaIDNR depth map
Find 11 depth maps of Clinton Lake on IFishIllinois.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Fingerlings and adults IDNR added to Clinton Lake
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Blue Catfish | 49,036 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Walleye | 244,134 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Blue Catfish | 47,590 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 77,095 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 5,966 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Walleye | 238,629 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Black Crappie | 12,860 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Black Crappie | 8,068 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Blue Catfish | 48,950 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 73,030 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Walleye | 236,550 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Black Crappie | 13,714 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
IDNR records these Clinton Lake stockings by year only.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Bag and length rules posted at Clinton 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 |
At Clinton Lake a site-specific digest line beats the statewide row.
Local digest rules for Clinton Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed (code) |
|---|---|---|
| Clinton Lake | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2). Sport fishermen shall be allowed to use trotlines, jugs, and bank poles in the portions of the lake that lie north of the Route 54 Railroad Bridge and northeast of the Route 48 Bridge. All jugs must be attended at all times (3). Sport fishermen may take carp, ca |
| Clinton Lake | Blue or Channel Catfish | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Clinton Lake | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 16 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Clinton Lake | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Clinton Lake | Walleye | 18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Clinton Lake | White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie | 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish greater than or equal to 10 inches and 5 Fish less than 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 2Sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, minnow trap, cast net or shad scoop for bait collecting in the following water areas: Fox Chain O' Lakes (Lake/McHenry Counties) – including the Fox River south of the Wisconsin-Illinois boundary to the …
- Code 3All jugs set in a body of water shall be under the immediate supervision of the fisherman. Immediate supervision shall be defined as the fisherman being on the water where the jugs are set and readily available to identify jugs to law enforcement officers.
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 22, 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.
State marks set on Clinton Lake
| Species | Weight | Division | Date | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Drum | 38 lbs 4 oz | hook and line | May 24, 2018 | DeWitt |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Bass events at Clinton Lake
Events and results for Clinton Lake live on a separate page.
Clinton Lake set beside other downstate lakes
Lake Decatur covers the most water in this group: 2,905 acres by IDNR.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton Lake | 4,895 | 60 | 6 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Weldon Springs | 7 miles southwest | 29 | 38 | 1 | Redear Sunfish |
| Heyworth Centennial Lake | 15 miles northwest | 7.0 | 0 | ||
| Dawson Lake (MVSRA) | 17 miles north | 161 | 26 | 2 | Black Crappie |
| Sunset Lake (CCFPD) | 20 miles east | 128 | 54 | 1 | Channel Catfish |
| Lake Decatur | 22 miles south | 2,905 | 24 | 5 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Around the Clinton Lake shoreline
Other lakes an Illinois Tollway exit or two from Clinton Lake
- Weldon Springs7 miles southwest
- Heyworth Centennial Lake15 miles northwest
- Dawson Lake (MVSRA)17 miles north
- Sunset Lake (CCFPD)20 miles east
- Lake Decatur22 miles south
Buy bait on the way to Clinton Lake
- Clinton Lake Marinamarina, Weldon, 2 miles
- Green Acres Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Clinton, 4 miles
- Jaydiz Fishing & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Monticello, 15 miles
- Lbs Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Decatur, 22 miles
- Smiley's Sports Shop Incbait and tackle shop, Bloomington, 22 miles
- Mike's Tackle Worldbait and tackle shop, Decatur, 22 miles
IDNR loaner tackle close to Clinton Lake
- Weldon Springs State ParkClinton, 7 miles
- Allerton Park 4-H campMonticello, 14 miles
Prairie State towns that sit near Clinton Lake
- Clinton9 miles
- Farmer City10 miles
- Le Roy12 miles
Illinois counties along Clinton Lake
- DeWitt Countyseat: Clinton
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun picks ahead of a trip to Clinton Lake
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A photo field guide to Clinton Lake fish
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Clinton Lake: what Prairie State anglers want settled
Which Illinois county is Clinton Lake in?
Clinton Lake is located in DeWitt County 10 miles east of Clinton, IL. You will find it in DeWitt County, about 1 mile from De Witt.
How much surface does Clinton Lake have by IDNR count?
The IFishIllinois figure is 4,895 acres, and the IDNR text gives a 60 foot maximum depth.
How many IDNR-mapped ramps touch Clinton Lake?
Clinton Lake Barefoot Cove Marina Boat Ramp is among 6 boat ramps.
What does IDNR say is biting at Clinton Lake?
IDNR rates largemouth bass as excellent; walleye, blue catfish, white bass, hybrid striped bass and black crappie also appear in its sources.
Does Clinton Lake 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 Clinton Lake?
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 Clinton Lake?
Try Route 10 Cove Fishing Pier on Clinton Lake, one of 4 fishing piers.
Which Illinois tackle counter is nearest Clinton Lake?
Clinton Lake Marina, about 2 miles away, tops the shop list.
Which record row names Clinton Lake?
Freshwater Drum at 38 lbs 4 oz (hook and line division, May 24, 2018) is the heaviest entry IDNR lists for Clinton Lake; IDNR prints no angler names.
Take the county blacktop out to Clinton Lake
Every 2026 fee and limit is a click away.