Fishing near Bloomington, Illinois
McLean County, population 78,680.
- under a mileto nearest lake page
- 1launch nearby
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First stops for a Bloomington angler with a rod
At the 2020 Census the city of Bloomington (McLean County) held 78,680 people. A drive of under a mile south reaches Holiday Park Lake, the closest lake page. Of the lakes listed, Evergreen Lake is broadest at roughly 925 acres. Evergreen Lake Boat Ramp-Comlara Park Access is the closest public launch, 12 miles out.
Without a boat, try Honkers Island Fishing Pier on Dawson Lake (MVSRA), some 14 miles off. Heartland Community College, an IDNR tackle loaner site, is 5 miles from town.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Bloomington; miles are straight lines.
Closest lakes to Bloomington, by the mile
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (IDNR text) | Kind | Launches | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Park Lake | under a mile south | 6 | lake | 0 | channel catfish | |
| Miller Park Lake | 2 miles west | 16 | 28 ft | lake | 0 | hybrid sunfish, channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| White Oaks Lake | 3 miles northwest | 18 ft | lake | 0 | channel catfish | |
| Heyworth Centennial Lake | 11 miles south | 7 | lake | 0 | channel catfish | |
| Evergreen Lake | 12 miles north | 925 | 50 ft | lake | 2 | saugeye, largemouth bass, muskellunge |
| Lake Bloomington | 12 miles north | 635 | 36 ft | lake | 1 | channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, walleye |
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. Launch counts from the IDNR map and 2019 inventory.
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River stage around Bloomington
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Creek Near Bloomington, Il | 29 cfs, 0.97 ft gage height | Nov 5 5:15 pm |
| Kickapoo Creek Near Bloomington, Il | 4.85 ft gage height | Nov 5 4:45 pm |
| Little Kickapoo Creek Near Heyworth, Il | 5 cfs, 3.36 ft gage height | Nov 5 5:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 5, 2026 5:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDNR IFishIllinois river and pool pages, USGS GNIS names and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 4, 2026.
Ponds, lakes and ramps plotted near Bloomington
- Evergreen Lake Boat Ramp-Comlara Park AccessEvergreen Lake, IDNR note: Fee and boat sticker required to launch/boat on lake, 12 miles
Docks and piers a short hop from Bloomington
- Honkers Island Fishing Pier on Dawson Lake (MVSRA)fishing pier, IDNR site: Moraine View, 14 miles
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.
Rod loans close to Bloomington
| Site | Address | Phone | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartland Community College | 1500 W. Raab Road, Normal | (309) 268-8513 | 5 miles |
These libraries and offices lend fishing gear for free.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Stores that sell hooks in Bloomington
Where Bloomington anglers buy crawlers
- Smiley's Sports Shop Incbait and tackle shop, Bloomington, 1 mile
- Dick's Sporting Goods Bloomingtonsporting goods store, Bloomington, 1 mile
- Lounge Sport and Baitbait and tackle shop, Bloomington, 2 miles
- Mucky Duck Marinamarina, Hudson, 13 miles
Yellow Pages, chain store and IDNR license vendor listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter association pages; read November 4, 2026.
IDNR record fish caught by Bloomington
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | hook and line | 21 lbs 7.2 oz | Lake Bloomington | June 12, 2017 |
| Skipjack Herring | hook and line | 2 lbs 10.4 oz | Illinois River | May 11, 2022 |
| Flathead Catfish | bow and arrow | 30 lbs 0 oz | Illinois River | May 4, 2018 |
| Freshwater Drum | hook and line | 38 lbs 4 oz | Clinton Lake | May 24, 2018 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026. Waters within 40 miles.
Fish a Bloomington angler may carry home
Plan on $15 for a resident annual or $31.50 for the nonresident version, per IDNR.
| Species | Daily limit | 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 |
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Lake and river pages print any site-specific digest entry.
An Illinois blacktop jaunt from Bloomington
Communities a short drive from Bloomington
- Normal3 miles
- Downs7 miles
- Hudson9 miles
- Heyworth11 miles
- Danvers11 miles
Which county covers Bloomington
- McLean Countyseat: Bloomington
Piscifun gear a Prairie State angler could stow for Bloomington
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Telling the Bloomington fish apart by photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Basing a fishing weekend in Bloomington: questions
What lake does a Bloomington angler reach first?
Holiday Park Lake, under a mile south.
Where can Bloomington anglers back a trailer down?
Evergreen Lake Boat Ramp-Comlara Park Access, some 12 miles off.
Where can Bloomington anglers fish from a pier rail?
Honkers Island Fishing Pier on Dawson Lake (MVSRA), 14 miles away.
What tackle store do Bloomington anglers drive to?
Smiley's Sports Shop Inc, a 1 mile drive.
What Illinois county holds Bloomington?
It is in McLean County.
How much is a nonresident license for Bloomington water?
Visitors from another state pay $31.50 for the IDNR nonresident annual.
Which big lake sits in range of Bloomington by IDNR acres?
Evergreen Lake lists about 925 acres and lies 12 miles off.
Which town page lies closest to Bloomington?
By distance: Normal (3 miles), Downs (7 miles) and Hudson (9 miles).
Can I borrow a fishing rod near Bloomington?
Heartland Community College, 5 miles away.
Which nearby water gave Bloomington anglers a record?
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper), 21 lbs 7.2 oz, June 12, 2017 (hook and line), from Bloomington, Lake.
Fish the reservoirs around Bloomington this year
River guides carry launches plus USGS gauges.