Devils Kitchen Lake Fishing
Williamson County holds this 810-acre IDNR-listed lake.
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Devils Kitchen Lake, the Prairie State snapshot
With 810 acres on the IDNR listing, Devils Kitchen Lake is a lake in Williamson County. Goreville is the nearest Census place, roughly 8 miles from the IDNR map point.
You can put in at 4 boat ramps 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 Devils Kitchen Lake
- Location (IDNR)Devils Kitchen Lake is a deep, clear, 810-acre impoundment located in the south portion of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge between Marion and Carbondale in Williamson County, Illinois.
- Description (IDNR)The Devils Kitchen Lake fishery is cooperatively managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lake is mostly surrounded by forest and has three boat ramps. The southern half of Devils Kitchen contains abundant standing timber, and a portion of the lake's southeast end is reserved for electric motors and paddling only.
The IDNR amenity list for Devils Kitchen Lake
- Family FriendlyYes
- Handicap AccessNo
- Boat FishingYes – 10 hp limit
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
This band carries the IFishIllinois text on Devils Kitchen Lake word for word.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
The IDNR outlook for Devils Kitchen Lake
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Fair | Devils Kitchen Lake has historically contained a bass population consisting of abundant small fish and a few giants, without much in between. Largemouth Bass were collected at a rate of 188 per hour in 2022 and 9% were… |
| Rainbow Trout | Very Good | Rainbow Trout are stocked in Devils Kitchen Lake each fall to maintain the population, and there is no closed season. The Devils Kitchen trout fishery is very popular with the angling public. Possession of an inland… |
| Bluegill | Very Good | As usual, Bluegill were less abundant than bass during the 2022 Devils Kitchen Lake survey. The Bluegill catch rate was 45 per hour of electrofishing. Quality of the Bluegill population continued to climb above… |
| Redear Sunfish | Very Good | The Devils Kitchen redear population remained fairly impressive in spring 2022. Redear abundance was was good, as measured by a catch rate of 63 per hour, and average size of these fish was much larger. Seventy-one… |
For Devils Kitchen Lake, IDNR gives rainbow trout a very good outlook.
Names above trace to IDNR for Devils Kitchen 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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- Devils Kitchen Lake Kayak and Canoe Landinggravel ramp, Gravel landing, gravel parking; user pass required
- Devils Kitchen Lake Line 13 Boat Ramppaved ramp, Paved ramp, paved parking; user pass required
- Devils Kitchen Lake Line 6 Boat Rampgravel ramp, Gravel ramp, gravel parking; user pass required
- Devils Kitchen Lake Main Boat Ramppaved ramp, Paved ramp, gravel parking, dock; user pass required
More public launches that reach Devils Kitchen Lake
- Crab Orchard Lake Wolf Creek Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, 6 miles north
- Crab Orchard Lake North Refuge Rd Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, 7 miles northeast
- Crab Orchard Lake Spillway Road Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, 7 miles northwest
- Crab Orchard Lake Bluegill Bay Marina Boat RampCrab Orchard Lake, 8 miles north
- Crab Orchard Lake Foreville Road RampCrab Orchard Lake, 8 miles north
- Crab Orchard Lake Old 13 Boat Ramp and Kayak LaunchCrab Orchard Lake, 8 miles north
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 Devils Kitchen Lake
- Devils KitchenIDNR depth map
- Devils Kitchen CentralIDNR depth map
- Devils Kitchen DamIDNR depth map
- Devils Kitchen EastIDNR depth map
- Devils Kitchen WestIDNR depth map
IDNR publishes 5 depth maps for Devils Kitchen Lake; open them from its IFishIllinois page.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Inflow and outflow figures for Devils Kitchen Lake
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grassy Creek (IL) at Devils Kitchen Lake near Marion 11WSW | 508.07 ft | – | not defined | 2026-11-05 18:15:00 UTC |
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
Fish IDNR stocked in Devils Kitchen Lake
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 8,332 | Adult |
| 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 2,598 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 4,009 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,703 | Adult |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 11,593 | Adult |
| 2024 | Yellow Perch | 6,300 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 4,512 | Adult |
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 9,646 | Adult |
| 2022 | Yellow Perch | 30,148 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
Rows for Devils Kitchen 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 Devils Kitchen 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 Devils Kitchen Lake wherever no site-specific line overrides them.
Digest regulations printed for Devils Kitchen Lake
- A 10 horsepower outboard motor limit is in effect. A user pass must be purchased prior to accessing Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge waters. The refuge visitor center can be reached by calling 618-997-3344.
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing
- Bluegill or Redear Sunfish: 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Rainbow Trout: 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit (statewide regulation)
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.
Devils Kitchen Lake among its neighbours
On size, Little Grassy Lake leads the nearby lakes at 1,000 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devils Kitchen Lake | 810 | 4 | Largemouth Bass | ||
| Little Grassy Lake | 3 miles west | 1,000 | 0 | ||
| Allen Pond (Giant City State Park) | 5 miles west | not printed | 0 | Channel Catfish | |
| Piney Pond (Giant City State Park) | 6 miles southwest | 1.0 | 0 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Deer Pond (Giant City State Park) | 6 miles southwest | 1.0 | 0 | Bluegill | |
| Eagle Pond (Giant City State Park) | 6 miles west | 2.5 | 0 | Redear Sunfish |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
An Illinois blacktop jaunt from Devils Kitchen Lake
Lakes in the same corner of the state as Devils Kitchen Lake
- Little Grassy Lake3 miles west
- Allen Pond (Giant City State Park)5 miles west
- Piney Pond (Giant City State Park)6 miles southwest
- Deer Pond (Giant City State Park)6 miles southwest
- Eagle Pond (Giant City State Park)6 miles west
Filling the bait bucket near Devils Kitchen Lake
- Just Add Water Bait Tackle & Morebait and tackle shop, Marion, 8 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Carbondalesporting goods store, Carbondale, 10 miles
- Egyptian Hills Marina Incmarina, Creal Springs, 11 miles
- Dunn's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Marion, 11 miles
- Frank's Real Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Gorham, 23 miles
Tackle loaner sites near Devils Kitchen Lake
- Little Grassy Fish HatcheryMakanda, 3 miles
- Little Grassy Campground and MarinaMakanda, 3 miles
- Giant City State ParkMakanda, 6 miles
- Carbondale Public LibraryCarbondale, 10 miles
Illinois towns close to Devils Kitchen Lake
- Goreville8 miles
- Crainville9 miles
- Carterville10 miles
County guides linked to Devils Kitchen Lake
- Williamson Countyseat: Marion
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun gear a Prairie State angler could stow for Devils Kitchen Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the Devils Kitchen Lake fish apart by photo
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Straight replies on Devils Kitchen Lake
How do I find Devils Kitchen Lake on an Illinois map?
Devils Kitchen Lake is a deep, clear, 810-acre impoundment located in the south portion of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge between Marion and Carbondale in Williamson County, Illinois. Its county listing is Williamson County, about 8 miles from Goreville.
Is Devils Kitchen Lake a large lake for Illinois?
IDNR gives 810 acres.
Can I tow a bass boat to Devils Kitchen Lake and launch?
The IDNR map shows 4 boat ramps; Devils Kitchen Lake Kayak and Canoe Landing is one.
Which fish does IDNR list for Devils Kitchen Lake?
The IDNR outlook gives largemouth bass a fair; other fish listed include rainbow trout, bluegill, redear sunfish and yellow perch.
How many black bass does the digest allow at Devils Kitchen 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 Devils Kitchen 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 Devils Kitchen Lake?
No pier on file; IDNR flags Family Friendly Yes; Handicap Access No.
Can I get bait on the way to Devils Kitchen Lake?
Our list starts with Just Add Water Bait Tackle & More, about 8 miles away,.
Which station reports Devils Kitchen Lake?
The level band shows Grassy Creek (IL) at Devils Kitchen Lake near Marion 11WSW (NWS, dated reading).
Pack the rods for Devils Kitchen Lake
Fees, stamps and site rules sit on the license page.