Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) Fishing
275 acres on the IFishIllinois page, a lake of Union County.
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First Illinois notes on Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
IDNR lists Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) at 275 acres, a lake lying in Union County. From the IDNR pin it is around 5 miles to McClure.
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 Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- Location (IDNR)Lyerla Lake is located in Union County within Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area near Ware, Illinois.
- Description (IDNR)Lyerla Lake is roughly 270 acres in size and is very shallow. There is only one gravel boat ramp. Lyerla Lake is a floodplain lake that is frequently flooded with water from adjacent creeks.
What IDNR says is available at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- Family FriendlyNo
- Handicap AccessNo
- Boat FishingYes – 10 hp limit
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingNo
- PicnickingNo
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
We copied the Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) entry from IFishIllinois without edits.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
How IDNR rates the fishing at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie spp. | Good | Lyerla Lake contains a quality crappie fishery consisting of both Black and White Crappie. However, the population is heavily regulated by water levels. During the drought of 2022, severe fish kills seems to have… |
| Gar spp. | Very Good | Shortnose Gar and Spotted Gar are numerous in Lyerla Lake. Although not popular with most anglers, gar can provide great angling opportunities for anglers with the proper gear to target them. Gar should not be viewed as… |
| Bluegill | Fair | Only one Bluegill was collected during the 2023 electrofishing survey. The extreme drought of 2022 led to low water levels and severe fish kills in Lyerla Lake, which seems to have impacted Bluegill numbers based on… |
| Emerald Bowfin | Very Good | Bowfin are numerous in Lyerla Lake and should provide good opportunities for anglers with the proper gear. Bowfin are aggressive predators and very strong fighters. Similar to Gar, Bowfin are a native species and should… |
IDNR rates gar spp. at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) as very good, the top mark in its outlook here.
Species for Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) 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.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Survey history at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- IDNRSimilar to Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County, Lyerla Lake possesses a good crappie fishery, but other traditional sport fishes are few in number. Fish biomass is dominated by species such as Freshwater Drum, Silver Carp, Common Carp, buffalo, and gar.
- Due to low water levels, fish kills often occur due to low oxygen levels. Anglers should be warned that water levels are often very low in the summer and fall, which can limit accessibility of boats with outboard motors.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Backing a trailer into Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
The IDNR ramp layer shows nothing on Lyerla Lake (UCFWA); ask the site office about launching, or use a nearby ramp below.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
The rules on keeping fish at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
| 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 Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) for a species, the statewide row decides.
Local rules at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- All fishing and boat traffic prohibited from October 15 through the last day of February.
- Recreational Use Restriction: Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (see above)
- 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
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.
Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) next to the lakes around it
The biggest neighbour here is Horseshoe Lake (Alexander), listed at 1,890 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) | 275 | 0 | Crappie spp. | ||
| Anna City Lake | 9 miles northeast | 3.0 | 0 | Bluegill | |
| Dongola City Reservoir | 11 miles east | 58 | 1 | Crappie spp. | |
| Horseshoe Lake (Alexander) | 16 miles south | 1,890 | 8 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Horse Camp Pond (Giant City State Park) | 18 miles northeast | 2.0 | 0 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Turkey Pond (Giant City State Park) | 18 miles northeast | 0.8 | 0 | Largemouth Bass |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Down the county road from Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
More Illinois lakes within reach of Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- Anna City Lake9 miles northeast
- Dongola City Reservoir11 miles east
- Horseshoe Lake (Alexander)16 miles south
- Horse Camp Pond (Giant City State Park)18 miles northeast
- Turkey Pond (Giant City State Park)18 miles northeast
Borrowing a rod near Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- Ullin City CenterUllin, 12 miles
- Giant City State ParkMakanda, 19 miles
- Little Grassy Campground and MarinaMakanda, 23 miles
- Little Grassy Fish HatcheryMakanda, 23 miles
Beds and breakfasts for a run to Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- Jonesboro8 miles
- Anna10 miles
- Cobden13 miles
Courthouse-county pages reaching Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
- Union Countyseat: Jonesboro
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Spinning reels from Piscifun matched to Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
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Lakes and river bends close to Lyerla Lake (UCFWA), in pictures
Photo: Aaron Lucas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mark and Allegra Jaroski-Biava, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0
What gets asked about Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) around Illinois
Is Lyerla Lake (UCFWA) upstate, central or down in Little Egypt?
Lyerla Lake is located in Union County within Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area near Ware, Illinois. Search Union County, about 5 miles from McClure.
What acre figure does IFishIllinois print for Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
275 acres, per IDNR.
Which launches on the IDNR map serve Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
The IDNR ramp layer has nothing within 15 miles.
How does IDNR grade the bass at Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
First in the IDNR outlook: crappie spp., good; also present per IDNR are emerald bowfin.
Does a digest length rule cover Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
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 Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
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 Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
No pier is inventoried; the IDNR page notes Family Friendly No; Handicap Access No.
Where are crawlers sold on the way to Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)?
Buy bait before the drive.
Save a Saturday for Lyerla Lake (UCFWA)
Buy the Illinois license online before you leave.