Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) Fishing
An IDNR-listed lake in Cass County.
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Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) in brief
Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) is a lake in Cass County; this page prints no acreage because the IDNR figures disagree. The IDNR description puts the deepest water at 45 feet. The closest town on the Census list is Chandlerville, near 6 miles away.
The IDNR fishing map plots 1 boat ramp on it. Anglers without a boat have 1 fishing pier 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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Location (IDNR)Prairie Lake is located at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State and Fish and Wildlife Area, 8 miles north of Ashland and 40 miles northwest of Springfield.
- Description (IDNR)In the early 1990s, the Department of Natural Resources purchased 15,575 acres of ground from Commonwealth Edison. Ten old farm ponds on the site were rehabilitated and restocked, and three new larger lakes were constructed. Gridley Lake was completed and stocked in 1997, followed by Prairie and Drake lakes in 1999 and 2002, respectively. Prairie Lake is the largest lake, spanning 210 acres. It has a maximum …
IDNR facility flags for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Family FriendlyYes
- Handicap AccessYes
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted horsepower and entire lake is no wake
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingNo
- SwimmingNo
- Trout StockingNo
IDNR wrote these lines for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA); nothing was reworded.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Species and ratings at Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | Good | Black Crappie were not stocked by the IDNR, but have appeared in yearly surveys for more than 10 years. A good population of 12-14" crappie is present, but any real numbers can be difficult to come by. However, new… |
| Largemouth Bass | Average | The Largemouth Bass population has struggled in recent years, with the majority of the population being under the old 15" limit. Survey catch rates have increased annually over the last 7 years, indicating an… |
| Channel Catfish | Excellent | The Channel Catfish population is excellent both in quantity and quality. Many 2–8 lb fish are collected in surveys every year. Channel Catfish are stocked into Prairie Lake on a biennial basis to supplement the… |
| Muskellunge | Very Good | Muskie continue to be a popular target at Prairie Lake. The body condition of sampled fish remains excellent. The largest fish in the 2025 survey measured 47" long, and weighed 36.4 lbs. Biennial muskie stocking will… |
Top of the IDNR outlook at Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA): channel catfish, rated excellent.
An IDNR source backs every fish listed for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA).
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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- IDNROther bodies of water in the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish Wildlife Area include: Gridley Lake, Drake Lake and Gurney Road Pond.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Ramps around Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Prairie Lake Boat Ramplaunch
Docks and piers on Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Ada Fishing Platform Fishing Pier on Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)fishing pier, IDNR site: Jim Edgar Panther Creek
Launches one bay over from Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Gridley Lake Boat RampGridley Lake (JEPCFWA), 2 miles south
- Sangamon River Boat Ramp at Pritchetville RoadSangamon River, 12 miles east
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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek Boat Dockboat dock, near Jim Edgar Panther Creek
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek Boat Dockboat dock, near Jim Edgar Panther Creek
- Ada-Prairie Lake Boat Dockboat dock, near Jim Edgar Panther Creek
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek Fish Cleaning Stationfish cleaning station
Docks and cleaning stations at Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) 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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Prairie Lake (Site M)IDNR depth map
1 depth map for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) sit on the IDNR page.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR stocking rows for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Channel Catfish | 8,400 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 206 | Adult |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | 5,040 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | 200 | Adult |
| 2022 | Bluegill | 267 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Channel Catfish | 8,400 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2022 | Largemouth Bass | 104 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Redear Sunfish | 214 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
Year, species, size class and count for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA), 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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
| 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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA).
Special regulations IDNR lists for Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Prairie Lake allows boat motors with unlimited horsepower, and there is a no-wake speed limit for the entire lake. Sail boats are allowed.
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing
- 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: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Muskie: 48 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) in one table
Among the five nearest lake pages, Ashland Old Reservoir is the largest IDNR listing at 5.0 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) | not printed | 45 | 1 | Black Crappie | |
| Drake Lake (JEPCFWA) | 1 mile northwest | not printed | 42 | 1 | Redear Sunfish |
| Gurney Road Pond (JEPCFWA) | 2 miles west | 2.0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Gridley Lake (JEPCFWA) | 2 miles south | not printed | 42 | 1 | Largemouth Bass |
| Ashland New Reservoir | 8 miles south | not printed | 20 | 1 | Bluegill |
| Ashland Old Reservoir | 9 miles south | 5.0 | 15 | 0 | Bluegill |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
A few miles of blacktop from Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
Other water a county or two from Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Drake Lake (JEPCFWA)1 mile northwest
- Gurney Road Pond (JEPCFWA)2 miles west
- Gridley Lake (JEPCFWA)2 miles south
- Ashland New Reservoir8 miles south
- Ashland Old Reservoir9 miles south
Where to buy crawlers and minnows near Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- B & S Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ashland, 3 miles
- Tom's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Beardstown, 19 miles
- Tall Timbers Marinamarina, Havana, 21 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Springfieldsporting goods store, Springfield, 24 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Springfieldsporting goods store, Springfield, 25 miles
Loaner rod and reel stops near Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWAChandlerville, under a mile
- Havana Nature CenterHavana, 22 miles
- IL Dept. of Natural ResourcesSpringfield, 24 miles
Towns with motels by Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
- Ashland7 miles
- Virginia8 miles
- Petersburg12 miles
The counties Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) runs through
- Cass Countyseat: Virginia
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Piscifun tackle to load up before Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
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Fish to recognise on sight at Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
The bait shop questions about Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)
Which Illinois town sits nearest Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
Prairie Lake is located at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State and Fish and Wildlife Area, 8 miles north of Ashland and 40 miles northwest of Springfield. IDNR places it in Cass County, about 6 miles from Chandlerville.
What size does the IFishIllinois page give Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
No acreage is printed here because the IDNR figures conflict, and the IDNR text gives a 45 foot maximum depth.
Where does IDNR map a launch on Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
Use Prairie Lake Boat Ramp, the one IDNR ramp.
Which species does IDNR rate at Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
IDNR calls black crappie good here and lists largemouth bass, channel catfish, muskellunge, bluegill and redear sunfish as well.
Which Illinois rules apply on Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
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 Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Is Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) good for anglers without a boat?
IDNR inventoried 1 fishing pier, such as Ada Fishing Platform Fishing Pier on Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA).
Which store outfits a trip to Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA)?
Stop at B & S Bait & Tackle, about 3 miles away,.
Tow the rig down to Prairie Lake (JEPCFWA) at dawn
Check the limits, then pick a ramp near your spot.