Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) Fishing
An IDNR-listed lake in Peoria County.
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Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) in brief
Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) is a lake in Peoria County; this page prints no acreage because the IDNR figures disagree. The closest town on the Census list is Glasford, near 3 miles away.
It has its own lines in the site-specific regulations.
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.
IDNR notes on Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Location (IDNR)Located in Central Illinois, the 5,524-acre Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area lies adjacent to the Illinois River, 4 miles north of Banner, Illinois, along Route 24.
- Description (IDNR)Banner Marsh SFWA was characterized by narrow strip pits and upland ponds, but in 1994, the hydrology changed due to the intentional cessation of pumping operations in the levee district. The water level rose approximately 7 feet (435 M.S.L.) due mainly to groundwater recharge by seepage under the existing 1-100 year flood-tight levee with the Illinois River. The total surface water acreage for the site …
- More from IDNRJohnson Lake is the largest lake in the Banner Marsh SFWA at over 600 surface acres. It is made up of a maze of final cut lakes interconnected by ditches to large shallow pond areas. The shallow areas (less than 6 feet) make up approximately 400 acres of flooded brush and diverse aquatic vegetation. The maximum water depth is 64.0 feet. Water clarity often exceeds 8 feet in the summer. The main access area has …
IDNR facility flags for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Family FriendlyYes
- Handicap AccessYes
- Boat FishingYes – 25 hp motor limit; No wake if motor is over 25 hp
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
IDNR wrote these lines for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh); nothing was reworded.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Species and ratings at Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | Good | The Channel Catfish population was sampled by 10 fish in 2024. These fish ranged in size from 15.9 to 23.0 inches and were in good body condition with a Wr average at 102. A low-density population is present and an… |
| Walleye | Average | In 2024, the Walleye population was sampled by 4 fish in 16 net nights of effort (.25 fish per net night). These fish ranged from 22.5 to 26.5 inches long. The body condition of these fish was very good at an average Wr… |
| Crappie spp. | Average | In 2024, 5 stock size black crappie were sampled in the spring trap nets with a PSD of 50, RSD9 of 50, RSD 10 of 50, and RSD 11 of 50. Only 1 white crappie were sampled in 2024 at 13.6 inches in length. Black crappie… |
| Bluegill | Poor | The Bluegill and redear sunfish populations were not sampled in 2024. The current Bluegill and redear condition is of a poor state with a poor growth rate. The competition with the gizzard shad and carp have maintained… |
| Muskellunge | Very Good | The muskie population was sampled by a total of 6 stock size muskie by the spring of 2024 trap net survey (1.3 fish per net night) and 3 fish in the fall electrofishing survey. These fish ranged from 13.5 to 47.2 inches… |
Top of the IDNR outlook at Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh): muskellunge, rated very good.
An IDNR source backs every fish listed for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh).
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 channel catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 IDNR fishery history for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- IDNRThe former bottomland lake and marsh was leveed and drained for agricultural practice from 1910 through 1958. From 1958 to1974 approximately 90 percent of the site was strip-mined for coal. The strip-mined areas have since been reclaimed and purchased by the State of Illinois. Under the management of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (1978 – present) the primary objective for the site is to …
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Ramps around Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
You will not find a ramp at Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) on the IDNR map; try a neighbour below.
Launches one bay over from Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Johnson Lake – Banner Marsh Boat Ramp on Lake 29 (Banner Marsh)Lake 29 (Banner Marsh), under a mile west
- Skyranch Boat Ramp on Spring Lake (North)Spring Lake (North), 3 miles southeast
- Spring Lake (North) Boat RampSpring Lake (South), 5 miles south
- Spring Lake (South) Boat RampSpring Lake (South), 7 miles south
- Powerton Lake Boat RampPowerton Lake, 8 miles east
- Double T Lake Boat RampDouble T Lake, 14 miles west
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Reading the bottom of Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Banner Marsh Johnson EastIDNR depth map
- Banner Marsh Johnson WestIDNR depth map
- Banner-Marsh Johnson LakeIDNR depth map
3 depth maps for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) sit on the IDNR page.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR stocking rows for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Channel Catfish | 672 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Walleye | 48,783 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | 812 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Walleye | 24,131 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Black Crappie x White Crappie | 500 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | 800 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 603 | Adult |
| 2024 | Walleye | 24,323 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Channel Catfish | 800 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2023 | Walleye | 23,120 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Channel Catfish | 800 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2022 | Walleye | 26,724 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
Year, species, size class and count for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh), as IDNR lists them.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Creel and length limits on Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
| 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 |
The 2026 statewide table is the default for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh).
Special regulations IDNR lists for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Johnson Lake has a 25 horsepower motor limit and boats with motors over 25 horsepower must operate at No Wake speed. The site is open 24 hours a day, except for the Central Zone Duck Season, at which time only shoreline fishing is …
- Recreational Use Restriction: Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (see below)
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; bow fishing is allowed from May 1 through August 31
- All live bait greater than 8 inches must be rigged with a quick set rig
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: Protected slot length limit with no possession of fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 18 inches; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Muskie: 42 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Walleye, Sauger, or Walleye Hybrid: 14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 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.
Nearby lakes beside Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) in one table
Among the five nearest lake pages, Lake 29 (Banner Marsh) is the largest IDNR listing at 22 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) | not printed | 0 | Channel Catfish | ||
| Banner Marsh Ponds | 1 mile southwest | not printed | 0 | Bluegill | |
| Lake 29 (Banner Marsh) | 1 mile southwest | 22 | 1 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Wheel Lake (Banner Marsh) | 2 miles east | not printed | 1 | Channel Catfish | |
| Spring Lake (North) | 3 miles south | not printed | 2 | Muskellunge | |
| Shovel Lake (Banner Marsh) | 3 miles southwest | not printed | 1 | Bluegill |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
A few miles of blacktop from Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
Other water a county or two from Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Banner Marsh Ponds1 mile southwest
- Lake 29 (Banner Marsh)1 mile southwest
- Wheel Lake (Banner Marsh)2 miles east
- Spring Lake (North)3 miles south
- Shovel Lake (Banner Marsh)3 miles southwest
Where to buy crawlers and minnows near Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- J & J Riverside Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Pekin, 10 miles
- Presleys Outdoorssporting goods store, Bartonville, 12 miles
- Hosss Hawg Baitbait and tackle shop, Elmwood, 15 miles
- Bass Pro Shops East Peoriasporting goods store, East Peoria, 17 miles
- Detweiller Marinamarina, Peoria, 18 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Peoriasporting goods store, Peoria, 19 miles
Loaner rod and reel stops near Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Havana Nature CenterHavana, 20 miles
Towns with motels by Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
- Manito9 miles
- Canton10 miles
- Hanna City11 miles
The counties Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) runs through
- Peoria Countyseat: Peoria
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun tackle to load up before Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
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Fish to recognise on sight at Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
The bait shop questions about Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)
Which Illinois town sits nearest Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
Located in Central Illinois, the 5,524-acre Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area lies adjacent to the Illinois River, 4 miles north of Banner, Illinois, along Route 24. IDNR places it in Peoria County, about 3 miles from Glasford.
What size does the IFishIllinois page give Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
No acreage is printed here because the IDNR figures conflict.
Where does IDNR map a launch on Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
No IDNR-mapped ramp sits on it; the closest is Johnson Lake – Banner Marsh Boat Ramp on Lake 29 (Banner Marsh), under a mile away.
Which species does IDNR rate at Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
IDNR calls channel catfish good here and lists walleye, bluegill, muskellunge and hybrid crappie as well.
Which Illinois rules apply on Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
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. This water also has a site-specific entry, shown in the limits band.
What does an Illinois license cost for Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Is Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) good for anglers without a boat?
IDNR lists no pier, but its facility flags read: Family Friendly Yes; Handicap Access Yes.
Which store outfits a trip to Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh)?
Stop at J & J Riverside Bait & Tackle, about 10 miles away,.
Tow the rig down to Johnson Lake (Banner Marsh) at dawn
Check the limits, then pick a ramp near your spot.