Rend Lake Fishing
An IDNR lake of 18,900 acres, found in Franklin and Jefferson counties.
Pick for white bassPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Aaron Lucas, CC BY-SA 4.0
What an Illinois angler should know about Rend Lake
The IFishIllinois entry gives Rend Lake 18,900 acres; the lake sits in Franklin and Jefferson counties. IDNR text gives a maximum depth of 35 feet. Count about 2 miles from the map point to Nason, the closest Census place.
IDNR maps 22 boat ramps along the shore. Statewide limits change here under a digest entry. USACE St. Louis District runs the dam and reports the pool.
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.
Site notes IDNR prints for Rend Lake
- Location (IDNR)Rend Lake is located in Franklin and Jefferson counties along I-57 approximately 15 miles south of Mt. Vernon and just northwest of Benton.
- Description (IDNR)Rend Lake was completed in 1971 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lake was formed by constructing a 2-mile-long dam across the Big Muddy River floodplain. At normal pool, Rend Lake has a surface area of 20,633 acres, a maximum depth of 35 feet, and a mean depth of 10 feet. The lake is 13 miles long and 3 miles wide and has 162 miles of shoreline. It is the second largest impoundment in Illinois.
Yes or no: what Rend Lake offers, per IDNR
- Family FriendlyYes
- Handicap AccessYes
- Boat FishingYes – Unrestricted
- Boat RampsYes
- Boat RentalsNo
- CampingYes
- PicnickingYes
- SkiingYes
- SwimmingYes
- Trout StockingNo
Text and flags in this band repeat the IFishIllinois page for Rend Lake as printed.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
What the electrofishing found at Rend Lake
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| White Bass | Good | During the 2025 survey, white bass were collected at a rate of 65 fish/hr. White bass fishing should be good in 2026. Anglers can expect the catchable population to be largely comprised of fish 10”- 15” in length and… |
| Largemouth Bass | Very Good | Bass fishing at Rend Lake should be very good in 2026. Based on the 2025 fall survey, the percentage of bass exceeding the 14" minimum length limit was 28%. Another 17% of the bass population was between 12-14 inches or… |
| Flathead Catfish | Good | Twenty-nine flathead catfish were collected in the 2025 survey ranging in size from 7-33 inches in length. |
| Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Fair | Eight striped bass hybrids were collected in the 2025 fall survey. The hybrids collected were 4-14 inches in length. One of the best areas to target these hybrid stripers is in the spillway/tailwater area in the spring…. |
| Bluegill | Average | The size structure of the Bluegill population remains stable. Bluegill will be abundant in the coming year with most keepers measuring 7- 8" in length. A small number of bluegill over 8 inches are observed in fisheries… |
| Crappie spp. | Good | Fall 2025 sampling indicated that the portion of the crappie population (both black and white crappie) comprised of fish over 10 inches is 13%. Another 10% of the crappie collected were between 9-10 inches. The number… |
| Channel Catfish | Excellent | The fishing prospects for channel catfish remain excellent for 2026. Natural reproduction and recruitment continue to be very strong, and are responsible for maintaining the large population of fish in the Rend Lake. In… |
IDNR biologists call the largemouth bass fishing at Rend Lake very good.
For Rend Lake, the fish shown have an IDNR outlook line, stocking row or record behind them.
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 bass herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 How Rend Lake got to be the fishery it is
- IDNRIn addition to traditional sport fish, Rend Lake also contains large populations of Common Carp, buffalo, gar, Freshwater Drum, and shad. The fish population is surveyed annually. Hybrid Striped Bass and Largemouth Bass are stocked annually when available.
IDNR fishery history text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Trailer ramps that serve Rend Lake
- Rend Lake Bluegill Hole Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake Bonnie Dam Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake Bonnie South Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake Campground Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake Dam West Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Gun Creek North Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Gun Creek South Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Gun Creek West Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake Ina Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Jackie Branch Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Nason North Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake Nason South Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake North Marcum Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake North Sandusky Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Resort Cove Boat Ramp 1launch
- Rend Lake Resort Cove Boat Ramp 2launch
- Rend Lake Resort Cove Boat Ramp 3launch
- Rend Lake Sailboat Harbor Boat Ramplaunch
- Rend Lake South Marcum Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake South Sandusky Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Turnip Patch Boat Rampfee noted, Fee required to launch
- Rend Lake Waltonville Boat Ramplaunch
Neighbouring ramps around Rend Lake
- Sesser City Lake Boat RampSesser City Lake, 6 miles southwest
- Buckner City Reservoir Boat RampBuckner City Reservoir, 12 miles south
- Christopher Old City Lake Boat RampChristopher Old City Lake, 12 miles southwest
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Docks and fish cleaning tables at Rend Lake
- Hotel Fishing Dockboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Fishing Dockboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Fishing Dock Behind Gift Shopboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Campers Boat Rampboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- North End East Boat Dockboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Schooner Boat Dockboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Restaurant Boat Dockboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Fishing Bridge Boat Dockboat dock, near Wayne Fitzgerrell
- Sailboat 1 Boat Dockboat dock, near Southern Illinois Art and Artisans Center
- Sailboat 2 Boat Dockboat dock, near Southern Illinois Art and Artisans Center
- Sailboat 3 Boat Dockboat dock, near Southern Illinois Art and Artisans Center
- Bonnie South Boat Dockboat dock, near Rend Lake
- Waltonville Dam Boat Dockboat dock, near Rend Lake
- Nason South Boat Dockboat dock, near Rend Lake
- Wayne Fitzgerrell Fish Cleaning Stationfish cleaning station, wood/shingle roof
The asset list behind these Rend Lake rows dates from 2019.
IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR depth maps of Rend Lake
- Rend Lake Dam WestIDNR depth map
- Rend Lake Gun CreekIDNR depth map
- Rend Lake Ina AccessIDNR depth map
- Rend Lake Marcum AccessIDNR depth map
- Rend Lake Nason AccessIDNR depth map
- Rend Lake North MarinaIDNR depth map
- Rend Lake Turnip PatchIDNR depth map
The IFishIllinois page for Rend Lake links 7 depth maps.
IDNR depth map list, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Level, inflow and outflow at Rend Lake
Our last Corps figure for Rend Lake: 403.58 feet, report of Wednesday, 04 November 2026 08:19.
USACE St. Louis District forecast page, report issued Wednesday, 04 November 2026 08:19 (one dated reading, not live; feet as printed, datum not printed; DSF = day-second-feet).
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Muddy River at Rend Lake Pool | 403.54 ft | – | not defined | 2026-11-05 18:30:00 UTC |
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
IDNR hatchery trucks at Rend Lake
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Largemouth Bass | 61,585 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | 165,762 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | 31,408 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | 242,011 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | 990 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
The IDNR table credits Rend Lake with these fish; release days are not published.
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
The IDNR keep rules for Rend 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 |
Start with the statewide rows at Rend Lake, then check its own entry.
Digest lines written just for Rend Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed (code) |
|---|---|---|
| Rend Lake | Recreational Use Restrictions | Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12) |
| Rend Lake | All Fish | All jugs must be attended at all times (3) |
| Rend Lake | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 14 inch Minimum Length Limit |
| Rend Lake | Striped, White, Yellow, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Rend Lake | White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie | 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish greater than or equal to 10 inches |
- Code 3All jugs set in a body of water shall be under the immediate supervision of the fisherman. Immediate supervision shall be defined as the fisherman being on the water where the jugs are set and readily available to identify jugs to law enforcement officers.
- Code 12It shall be unlawful to trespass upon a designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open to fishing. It shall be …
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 50, 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.
Illinois records caught at Rend Lake
| Species | Weight | Division | Date | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Bowfin | 16 lbs 6 oz | hook and line | September 23, 1984 | Jefferson |
| Spotted Gar | 11 lbs 1.28 oz | bow and arrow | April 23, 2025 | Franklin Aux |
| Black Crappie | 4 lbs 8 oz | hook and line | May 15, 1976 | Franklin |
| Yellow Bass x White Perch | 2 lbs 0.96 oz | hook and line | November 3, 2008 | Franklin |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Circuit stops scheduled on Rend Lake
Trail dates and winning bags from Rend Lake are gathered on one page.
Sizing Rend Lake against other Illinois lakes
Buckner City Reservoir tops this table with 17 IDNR acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (ft) | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rend Lake | 18,900 | 35 | 22 | White Bass | |
| Sesser City Lake | 6 miles southwest | not printed | 1 | Channel Catfish | |
| Mt. Vernon G.F. Pond | 9 miles northeast | 2.0 | 0 | ||
| Buckner City Reservoir | 12 miles south | 17 | 1 | Largemouth Bass | |
| Christopher Old City Lake | 12 miles southwest | not printed | 1 | Channel Catfish | |
| Ten Mile Creek SFWA Lakes | 13 miles northeast | not printed | 0 | Channel Catfish |
IDNR IFishIllinois pages (acres, depth text, outlook) and the IDNR boat ramp layer; read November 4, 2026.
Inside a cornfield drive of Rend Lake
Nearby impoundments to try after Rend Lake
- Sesser City Lake6 miles southwest
- Mt. Vernon G.F. Pond9 miles northeast
- Buckner City Reservoir12 miles south
- Christopher Old City Lake12 miles southwest
- Ten Mile Creek SFWA Lakes13 miles northeast
Bait counters on the drive to Rend Lake
- G & S Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Benton, 9 miles
- Rend Lake Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Mount Vernon, 10 miles
- Rend Lake Fishing Guidesbait and tackle shop, Benton, 12 miles
- Simonton Bait Storebait and tackle shop, Nashville, 24 miles
Guides and charters working Rend Lake
- Rend Lake Fishing Guidesfishing guide, Benton, (618) 472-4763
No rod? Loaner sites near Rend Lake
- Benton Public LibraryBenton, 11 miles
- West Frankfort Public LibraryWest Frankfort, 17 miles
Places to sleep and eat near Rend Lake
- Ina3 miles
- Sesser6 miles
- Benton9 miles
Rend Lake, cut along Illinois county lines
- Franklin Countyseat: Benton
- Jefferson Countyseat: Mount Vernon
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on Rend Lake
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Timber, cornfield and water around Rend Lake through a lens
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Mark and Allegra Jaroski-Biava, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain
Rend Lake, sorted out question by question
Which counties border Rend Lake?
Rend Lake is located in Franklin and Jefferson counties along I-57 approximately 15 miles south of Mt. Vernon and just northwest of Benton. Point the car at Franklin and Jefferson counties, about 2 miles from Nason.
How many IDNR acres does Rend Lake spread over?
IDNR lists 18,900 acres, and the IDNR text gives a 35 foot maximum depth.
Which IDNR ramp is handiest for Rend Lake?
22 boat ramps are mapped, including Rend Lake Bluegill Hole Boat Ramp.
Which fish turn up in IDNR surveys of Rend Lake?
white bass lead the IDNR outlook (good), with largemouth bass, flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass, bluegill and channel catfish also named.
What does the 2026 digest let me keep at Rend 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. Site rules printed above take priority.
May a visitor from Indiana or Iowa fish Rend Lake?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Does Rend Lake have shore access?
IDNR facility flags: Family Friendly Yes; Handicap Access Yes; piers are not listed.
Where do Rend Lake anglers buy tackle?
G & S Bait and Tackle, about 9 miles away, is the first shop on our list.
What was the last Corps figure for Rend Lake?
USACE listed 403.58 feet in the report of Wednesday, 04 November 2026 08:19.
Is Rend Lake in the IDNR record list?
Emerald Bowfin at 16 lbs 6 oz (hook and line division, September 23, 1984) is the heaviest entry IDNR lists for Rend Lake; IDNR prints no angler names.
Make the drive to Rend Lake
IDNR fees and the statewide table are on one page.