Lake Taylorville Fishing
A lake in Christian County, 1,286 acres by IDNR.
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Sizing up Lake Taylorville
Look for Lake Taylorville in Christian County: a lake that IDNR sizes at 1,286 acres. Owaneco lies roughly 4 miles off, the handiest Census place.
Boaters get 1 boat ramp from the IDNR map. 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 Lake Taylorville
- Location (IDNR)Lake Taylorville is located at the southeast edge of Taylorville, 30 miles southeast of Springfield.
- Description (IDNR)Lake Taylorville is 1,286 acres. The lake is shallow with an average depth of only 7 feet. Care should be taken when operating watercraft, especially in the upper end of the lake. The lake has a very large watershed, thus has suffered from extreme siltation in the past several decades. The watershed and lake were rehabilitated in the 1990s, and a dozen silt retention basins were built to capture sediment …
Amenities on the IDNR page for Lake Taylorville
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessYes
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingYes
- SwimmingYes
- Trout StockingNo
The rows above quote the IDNR page for Lake Taylorville.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR survey ratings for Lake Taylorville
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| White Crappie | Good | The White Crappie population is doing well as far as quantity, with good numbers of 7-10" fish. The 2025 fall fish survey showed the population still displays a bottle neck around that 9” mark. The high density of… |
| Largemouth Bass | Good | The 2025 fall fish survey showed the highest catch rate of Largemouth Bass ever sampled, with almost 120 fish/hr of electrofishing. Largemouth Bass were present in several year classes, with fish ranging from 4-18”, and… |
| Channel Catfish | Good | The Channel Catfish population remains good, although few fish were collected in the fall 2025 sample. Standardized electrofishing is not the most effective method to assess the Channel Catfish population. Gill nets or… |
| Sauger | Poor | No Sauger were collected in the 2025 survey. The Sauger population remains poor. They were stocked annually for many years using both fingerling fish from the hatchery and advanced fingerlings from the on-site nursery… |
| Bluegill | Average | Since 2010, few Bluegill >7” have been collected. The majority of Bluegill collected measure between 6-7” and showed less than desired body condition. Subsampling Bluegill can introduce sampling biases and can affect… |
Each species named here comes from the IDNR page, the stocking table or the record list for Lake Taylorville; 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 white crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What past IDNR work found at Lake Taylorville
- IDNRThe Division of Fisheries entered into a formal Cooperative Management Agreement in 1992 with the City of Taylorville to manage the sport fishery. A total of 19 fish species have been collected in Lake Taylorville since 1993. While their numbers and potential for successful angling are low, anglers may find themselves catching Green Sunfish, Green Sunfish x Bluegill Hybrid, Yellow Bullhead, or Freshwater Drum.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Concrete and gravel ramps on Lake Taylorville
- Lake Taylorville Boat Ramplaunch, City boat license required to launch/boat on lake
Other ramps when Lake Taylorville is crowded
- Kincaid City Reservoir Boat RampKincaid City Reservoir, 8 miles northwest
- Sangchris Lake Strawkas Point Boat RampSangchris Lake, 13 miles northwest
- Sangchris Lake East Boat RampSangchris Lake, 14 miles northwest
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Mapped depths at Lake Taylorville
- Lake TaylorvilleIDNR depth map
- Lake Taylorville DamIDNR depth map
- Lake Taylorville Golf CourseIDNR depth map
Find 3 depth maps of Lake Taylorville on IFishIllinois.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Fingerlings and adults IDNR added to Lake Taylorville
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Blue Catfish | 13,000 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Largemouth Bass | 12,045 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Blue Catfish | 13,000 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 12,100 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Blue Catfish | 13,000 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | 12,025 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Largemouth Bass | 12,724 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
IDNR records these Lake Taylorville 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 Lake Taylorville
| 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 Lake Taylorville a site-specific digest line beats the statewide row.
Local digest rules for Lake Taylorville
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed (code) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Taylorville | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 15 inch Minimum Length Limit |
| Lake Taylorville | White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie | 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish greater than or equal to 10 inches |
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 40, 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.
Lake Taylorville set beside other downstate lakes
Sangchris Lake covers the most water in this group: 2,321 acres by IDNR.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Taylorville | 1,286 | 1 | White Crappie | ||
| Taylorville Park District Pond | 3 miles northwest | 5.0 | 0 | ||
| Kincaid City Reservoir | 8 miles northwest | 31 | 15 | 1 | Crappie spp. |
| Sangchris Lake | 14 miles northwest | 2,321 | 3 | ||
| Pana Lake | 16 miles southeast | not printed | 1 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Lake Glenn Shoals | 23 miles southwest | 1,085 | 2 | Bluegill |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Around the Lake Taylorville shoreline
Other lakes an Illinois Tollway exit or two from Lake Taylorville
- Taylorville Park District Pond3 miles northwest
- Kincaid City Reservoir8 miles northwest
- Sangchris Lake14 miles northwest
- Pana Lake16 miles southeast
- Lake Glenn Shoals23 miles southwest
Buy bait on the way to Lake Taylorville
- Catfish Connectionbait and tackle shop, Pana, 14 miles
- Pana Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Pana, 14 miles
- Docksidemarina, Raymond, 20 miles
- Old Guy Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Divernon, 21 miles
Prairie State towns that sit near Lake Taylorville
- Taylorville5 miles
- Kincaid10 miles
- Assumption11 miles
Illinois counties along Lake Taylorville
- Christian Countyseat: Taylorville
Piscifun picks ahead of a trip to Lake Taylorville
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A photo field guide to Lake Taylorville fish
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Lake Taylorville: what Prairie State anglers want settled
Which Illinois county is Lake Taylorville in?
Lake Taylorville is located at the southeast edge of Taylorville, 30 miles southeast of Springfield. You will find it in Christian County, about 4 miles from Owaneco.
How much surface does Lake Taylorville have by IDNR count?
The IFishIllinois figure is 1,286 acres.
How many IDNR-mapped ramps touch Lake Taylorville?
IDNR shows just Lake Taylorville Boat Ramp.
What does IDNR say is biting at Lake Taylorville?
IDNR rates white crappie as good; largemouth bass, channel catfish, sauger, bluegill and blue catfish also appear in its sources.
Does Lake Taylorville 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 Lake Taylorville?
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 Lake Taylorville?
The IDNR flags say Family Friendly No; Handicap Access Yes; no pier is on its asset list.
Which Illinois tackle counter is nearest Lake Taylorville?
Catfish Connection, about 14 miles away, tops the shop list.
Take the county blacktop out to Lake Taylorville
Every 2026 fee and limit is a click away.