Harrisburg New City Reservoir Fishing
209 acres on the IFishIllinois page, a reservoir of Saline County.
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First Illinois notes on Harrisburg New City Reservoir
IDNR lists Harrisburg New City Reservoir at 209 acres, a reservoir lying in Saline County. At its deepest, the IDNR text says, it reaches 30 feet. From the IDNR pin it is around 2 miles to Galatia.
1 boat ramp show on the IDNR boat ramp layer here. Read its digest entry before you keep fish.
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.
What IDNR says about Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Location (IDNR)The reservoir is located approximately 1 mile east of Galatia in the wooded rolling terrain of Saline County.
- Description (IDNR)Harrisburg New City Reservoir has a surface area of 209.0 acres and maximum depth of 30.0 feet. Shoreline areas are shallow and the reservoir has a shoreline length of 6.5 miles with a watershed of approximately 2000 acres. Harrisburg New City Reservoir was impounded in 1955 to create the reservoir and provide a public water source. Currently the City of Harrisburg receives well water, eliminating the …
What IDNR says is available at Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessNo
- Boat FishingYes
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingNo
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
We copied the Harrisburg New City Reservoir entry from IFishIllinois without edits.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
How IDNR rates the fishing at Harrisburg New City Reservoir
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Redear Sunfish | Average | Redear sunfish between 8-10 inches are observed during fisheries surveys. |
| Crappie spp. | Fair | Twenty-one percent of the black crappie collected in the 2025 survey were over 9 inches. No black crappie over 10 inches were collected. One white crappie (12 inches) was collected in the 2025 survey. |
| Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Poor | No striped bass hybrids were collected in the 2025 survey. Striped bass hybrids (558 1.2-inches) were stocked in 2025. Striped bass hybrids are stocked annually when available. |
| Largemouth Bass | Average | Bass were collected at a rate of 88 fish/hr in the 2025 survey. Twenty-five percent of the bass collected were over 14 inches and 2% were over 18 inches. The largest bass collected was 3.6 pounds. |
| Bluegill | Fair | Bluegill size structure remains constant as most catchable fish are between 6-7 inches. Very few bluegill over 8 inches are observed during fisheries surveys. |
| Channel Catfish | Average | Nine channel catfish (12-24 inches) were collected in the 2025 survey. Channel catfish (2117 8-inch fish) were stocked in 2025. Channel catfish are stocked annually when available. |
| Flathead Catfish | Poor | Two flathead catfish (27-37 inches) were collected in the 2025 survey. The largest weighed 26 pounds. |
Species for Harrisburg New City Reservoir come only from IDNR pages and tables.
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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- IDNRRecent survey data suggests Harrisburg New City Reservoir is currently supporting a balanced fishery. Catchable populations of Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, crappie and Redear Sunfish are present in the reservoir. Channel catfish are stocked annually when available. Hybrid Striped Bass are stocked annually when available.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Backing a trailer into Harrisburg New City Reservoir
Ramps to know near Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Sahara Woods East Pit Lake Boat RampSahara Lake, 10 miles southwest
- Sahara Lake Boat RampSahara Lake, 10 miles southwest
- West Frankfort New City Lake Boat RampWest Frankfort New City Lake, 12 miles west
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
What IDNR put into Harrisburg New City Reservoir
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Channel Catfish | 2,000 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | 2,117 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 558 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | 5,910 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2023 | Channel Catfish | 9,850 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2023 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 4,046 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Channel Catfish | 10,022 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
These Harrisburg New City Reservoir lines are from the IFishIllinois stocking table.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
The rules on keeping fish at Harrisburg New City Reservoir
| 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 |
Unless the digest names Harrisburg New City Reservoir for a species, the statewide row decides.
Local rules at Harrisburg New City Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed (code) |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg New City Reservoir | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Harrisburg New City Reservoir | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Harrisburg New City Reservoir | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
- 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 …
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 31, 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.
Harrisburg New City Reservoir next to the lakes around it
The biggest neighbour here is West Frankfort New City Lake, listed at 214 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg New City Reservoir | 209 | 30 | 1 | Redear Sunfish | |
| Sahara Lake | 10 miles southwest | not printed | 2 | Bluegill | |
| West Frankfort New City Lake | 12 miles west | 214 | 1 | Yellow Bass | |
| West Frankfort Old City Lake | 12 miles west | 147 | 0 | ||
| Omaha Township Reservoir | 14 miles east | 27 | 16 | 0 | Largemouth Bass |
| Omaha City Reservoir | 15 miles east | 22 | 16 | 1 | Channel Catfish |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Down the county road from Harrisburg New City Reservoir
More Illinois lakes within reach of Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Sahara Lake10 miles southwest
- West Frankfort New City Lake12 miles west
- West Frankfort Old City Lake12 miles west
- Omaha Township Reservoir14 miles east
- Omaha City Reservoir15 miles east
Tackle stops within a short drive of Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Dunn's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Marion, 22 miles
- G & S Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Benton, 22 miles
- Rend Lake Fishing Guidesbait and tackle shop, Benton, 22 miles
- Just Add Water Bait Tackle & Morebait and tackle shop, Marion, 25 miles
- Egyptian Hills Marina Incmarina, Creal Springs, 25 miles
Borrowing a rod near Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Galatia Public LibraryGalatia, 2 miles
- Harrisburg Parks and RecreationHarrisburg, 8 miles
- Eldorado Public LibraryEldorado, 8 miles
- West Frankfort Public LibraryWest Frankfort, 19 miles
Beds and breakfasts for a run to Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Harrisburg8 miles
- Eldorado8 miles
- Carrier Mills11 miles
Courthouse-county pages reaching Harrisburg New City Reservoir
- Saline Countyseat: Harrisburg
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Spinning reels from Piscifun matched to Harrisburg New City Reservoir
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Lakes and river bends close to Harrisburg New City Reservoir, in pictures
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Aaron Lucas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gary Todd, CC0 1.0
Photo: Mark and Allegra Jaroski-Biava, CC BY-SA 2.0
What gets asked about Harrisburg New City Reservoir around Illinois
Is Harrisburg New City Reservoir upstate, central or down in Little Egypt?
The reservoir is located approximately 1 mile east of Galatia in the wooded rolling terrain of Saline County. Search Saline County, about 2 miles from Galatia.
What acre figure does IFishIllinois print for Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
209 acres, per IDNR, and the IDNR text gives a 30 foot maximum depth.
Which launches on the IDNR map serve Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
One launch is on the map: Harrisburg New City Reservoir Boat Ramp.
How does IDNR grade the bass at Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
First in the IDNR outlook: redear sunfish, average; also present per IDNR are hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish and flathead catfish.
Does a digest length rule cover Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
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. A digest line for this water changes part of that; see the limits band.
Which IDNR paperwork comes before a day at Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Where do shore anglers go at Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
No pier is inventoried; the IDNR page notes Family Friendly No; Handicap Access No.
Where are crawlers sold on the way to Harrisburg New City Reservoir?
Nearest in our shop file: Dunn's Sporting Goods, about 22 miles away,.
Save a Saturday for Harrisburg New City Reservoir
Buy the Illinois license online before you leave.