LaSalle Cooling Lake Fishing
IDNR lists 2,058 acres of lake water in LaSalle County.
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LaSalle Cooling Lake in brief
LaSalle Cooling Lake is a lake of 2,058 acres in LaSalle County, going by the IDNR page. The closest town on the Census list is Marseilles, near 3 miles away.
The IDNR fishing map plots 2 boat ramps on it. Anglers without a boat have 3 fishing piers from the IDNR inventory. 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 LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Location (IDNR)LaSalle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, is located in LaSalle County approximately 8 miles southeast of Marseilles or 8 miles southwest of Seneca on County Road 6. Anglers can use the following number for updates on lake conditions as it impacts boat fishing: call 815-357-1608.
- Description (IDNR)LaSalle Lake is a perched cooling lake impounding 2,058 surface acres of water with 100 percent of the shoreline comprised of rock rip–rapped dikes. The average depth of the lake is 15 feet, but there are excavated areas within the lake up to 70 feet deep. Caution should be used on windy days as LaSalle Lake may become extremely rough. For safety, please observe wind warning lights. There is usually a 20 …
- More from IDNRThere is no horsepower limitation for boats; the maximum speed is 40 mph except in designated “no wake” areas; a working gasoline engine is required as the main propulsion unit; boats under 14 feet are not recommended. The lake has a concrete three-lane boat ramp and a paved parking lot large enough for 140 car/trailer parking. The boat launch is ADA accessible. Zebra mussels have been found in LaSalle Lake …
IDNR facility flags for LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessYes
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingNo
- PicnickingNo
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
IDNR wrote these lines for LaSalle Cooling Lake; nothing was reworded.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Species and ratings at LaSalle Cooling Lake
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Average | Hybrid striped bass are stocked annually. Anglers report good catches of 2 to 8 pound fish, especially early spring and late fall. |
| Channel Catfish | Average | LaSalle Cooling Lake has a large population of channel catfish. These fish are characterized by poor relative weights and small size despite the large Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad population to feed on. |
| Bluegill | Very Good | Historic fall samples show a diverse population with excellent size distribution. The 2025 fall survey showed good numbers of fish, however the majority of fish where under 7”. The catch rate of fish in the 3–6-inch… |
| Largemouth Bass | Average | Largemouth Bass have been rebounding from previous years. Largemouth fish can be very tough post the shad spawn. Hot spots in the spring before the shad spawn are the East end banks with drop off near large rock. |
Top of the IDNR outlook at LaSalle Cooling Lake: bluegill, rated very good.
An IDNR source backs every fish listed for LaSalle Cooling Lake.
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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- IDNRThe fishery is managed by annual species-specific surveys and stocking. LaSalle Lake receives an annual stocking of Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, and Blue Catfish.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Ramps around LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Illinois River – Marseilles Illini State Park Boat Ramp on LaSalle Cooling Lakeconcrete ramp
- LaSalle Cooling Lake Boat Rampconcrete ramp
Docks and piers on LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Ivy Point Fishing Pier on LaSalle Cooling Lakefishing pier, IDNR site: LaSalle Fish Hatchery
- Lasalle Fish Hatchery Fishing Pier on LaSalle Cooling Lakefishing pier, IDNR site: LaSalle Fish Hatchery
- Veteran's Point Fishing Pier on LaSalle Cooling Lakefishing pier, IDNR site: LaSalle Lake
Launches one bay over from LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Illinois River – Marseilles Stratton Park Boat Ramp, Morris on Gebhard Woods Ponds 1-3Gebhard Woods Ponds 1-3, 13 miles northeast
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.
Boat docks IDNR inventoried at LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Lasalle Fish Hatchery Boat Dockboat dock, near LaSalle Fish Hatchery
- Lasalle Fish Hatchery Boat Dockboat dock, near LaSalle Fish Hatchery
- Lasalle Fish Hatchery Boat Dockboat dock, near LaSalle Fish Hatchery
- Illini Boat Dockboat dock, near Illini
- Illini Boat Dockboat dock, near Illini
Docks and cleaning stations at LaSalle Cooling Lake come from the 2019 IDNR lands asset inventory; it lists no hours.
IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.
Reading the bottom of LaSalle Cooling Lake
- LaSalle Cooling LakeIDNR depth map
1 depth map for LaSalle Cooling Lake sit on the IDNR page.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR stocking rows for LaSalle Cooling Lake
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Blue Catfish | 20,739 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Bluegill | 127,747 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Largemouth Bass | 55,187 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Smallmouth Bass | 14,257 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 31,490 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Blue Catfish | 20,580 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Bluegill | 121,560 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 58,291 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 4,757 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Smallmouth Bass | 20,499 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Smallmouth Bass | 1,398 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 23,953 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
Year, species, size class and count for LaSalle Cooling Lake, 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 LaSalle Cooling 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 |
The 2026 statewide table is the default for LaSalle Cooling Lake.
Special regulations IDNR lists for LaSalle Cooling Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed (code) |
|---|---|---|
| Lasalle Cooling Lake | Recreational Use Restrictions | Waterfowl refuge or hunting area; site regulations apply |
| Lasalle Cooling Lake | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Lasalle Cooling Lake | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Lasalle Cooling 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 |
- 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 41, 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 LaSalle Cooling Lake in one table
Among the five nearest lake pages, Heidecke Lake is the largest IDNR listing at 1,955 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaSalle Cooling Lake | 2,058 | 2 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | ||
| Gebhard Woods Ponds 1-3 | 12 miles northeast | 2.0 | 1 | ||
| Heidecke Lake | 17 miles northeast | 1,955 | 1 | Channel Catfish | |
| North Unit Lakes (Mazonia SFWA) | 19 miles east | not printed | 0 | ||
| Bass Lake (Mazonia 3) | 19 miles east | 28 | 1 | Bluegill | |
| Bullhead Lake (Mazonia 7) | 19 miles east | 33 | 0 | Crappie spp. |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
A few miles of blacktop from LaSalle Cooling Lake
Other water a county or two from LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Gebhard Woods Ponds 1-312 miles northeast
- Heidecke Lake17 miles northeast
- North Unit Lakes (Mazonia SFWA)19 miles east
- Bass Lake (Mazonia 3)19 miles east
- Bullhead Lake (Mazonia 7)19 miles east
Where to buy crawlers and minnows near LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Spring Brook Marinamarina, Seneca, 3 miles
- Anchor in Marinamarina, Seneca, 3 miles
- Heritage Harbor Marinamarina, Ottawa, 10 miles
- B & B Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Ottawa, 12 miles
- Bedford Sales & Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Morris, 13 miles
- South End Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Streator, 14 miles
Loaner rod and reel stops near LaSalle Cooling Lake
- I & M Canal State Trail Gebhard WoodsMorris, 12 miles
Towns with motels by LaSalle Cooling Lake
- Marseilles3 miles
- Seneca3 miles
- Ottawa12 miles
The counties LaSalle Cooling Lake runs through
- LaSalle Countyseat: Ottawa
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun tackle to load up before LaSalle Cooling Lake
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Fish to recognise on sight at LaSalle Cooling Lake
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Alabama Extension, CC0 1.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
The bait shop questions about LaSalle Cooling Lake
Which Illinois town sits nearest LaSalle Cooling Lake?
LaSalle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, is located in LaSalle County approximately 8 miles southeast of Marseilles or 8 miles southwest of Seneca on County Road 6. Anglers can use the following number for updates on lake conditions as it impacts boat fishing: call 815-357-1608. IDNR places it in LaSalle County, about 3 miles from Marseilles.
What size does the IFishIllinois page give LaSalle Cooling Lake?
About 2,058 acres on the IDNR page.
Where does IDNR map a launch on LaSalle Cooling Lake?
Try Illinois River – Marseilles Illini State Park Boat Ramp on LaSalle Cooling Lake, one of 2 boat ramps.
Which species does IDNR rate at LaSalle Cooling Lake?
IDNR calls striped bass x white bass (wiper) average here and lists channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, blue catfish and smallmouth bass as well.
Which Illinois rules apply on LaSalle Cooling 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. This water also has a site-specific entry, shown in the limits band.
What does an Illinois license cost for LaSalle Cooling Lake?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Is LaSalle Cooling Lake good for anglers without a boat?
IDNR inventoried 3 fishing piers, such as Ivy Point Fishing Pier on LaSalle Cooling Lake.
Which store outfits a trip to LaSalle Cooling Lake?
Stop at Spring Brook Marina, about 3 miles away,.
Tow the rig down to LaSalle Cooling Lake at dawn
Check the limits, then pick a ramp near your spot.