Fishing near Champaign, Illinois
Champaign County, population 88,302.
- under a mileto nearest lake page
- 2launches nearby
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Casting close to Champaign
The 2020 Census counted 88,302 people in Champaign, a city of Champaign County. The nearest paged lake is Kaufman Lake, under a mile west of town. By IDNR acreage, Sunset Lake (CCFPD) is biggest at around 128 acres. Lake of the Woods Boat Ramp, roughly 8 miles off, is the nearest IDNR-listed launch.
Savoy Recreation Center lends free rods through the IDNR loaner program, 4 miles away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Champaign; miles are straight lines.
Lakes worth the drive from Champaign
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (IDNR text) | Kind | Launches | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaufman Lake | under a mile west | 10 | lake | 0 | hybrid sunfish, rainbow trout, channel catfish | |
| Crystal Lake (UPD) | 3 miles east | 7 | lake | 0 | ||
| Lake of the Woods- CCFPD | 8 miles northwest | 28 ft | lake | 0 | largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish | |
| Sunset Lake (CCFPD) | 9 miles northwest | 128 | 54 ft | lake | 1 | channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| Homer Lake (CCFPD) | 15 miles east | 81 | 24 ft | lake | 4 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Villa Grove West Lake | 19 miles south | 5 | 10 ft | lake | 0 | channel catfish, rainbow trout |
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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Stream readings around Champaign
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Slough At Champaign, Il | 2 cfs, 9.88 ft gage height | Nov 5 4:15 pm |
| Boneyard Creek Below 6th Street At Champaign, Il | 11.37 ft gage height | Nov 5 5:00 pm |
| Boneyard Creek At Urbana, Il | 2 cfs, 10.19 ft gage height | Nov 5 4:35 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.
Champaign fishing water, plotted
- Lake of the Woods Boat RampWoods Lake, launch, 8 miles
- Sunset Lake Boat RampSunset Lake (CCFPD), launch, 9 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.
IDNR tackle loaner sites by Champaign
| Site | Address | Phone | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savoy Recreation Center | 402 W. Graham Drive, Savoy | (217) 359-3550 | 4 miles |
IDNR lends rods and tackle free at these sites, most of them libraries and park offices.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Tackle aisles around Champaign
Live bait for sale near Champaign
- Dick's Sporting Goods Champaignsporting goods store, Champaign, 3 miles
- A & W Critters & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Rantoul, 15 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.
Record entries close to Champaign
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Creel rules for Champaign anglers
An Illinois resident pays $15 for the annual sport fishing license, a nonresident $31.50.
| 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.
Down the county road from Champaign
Neighbouring places to Champaign
- Savoy4 miles
- Urbana4 miles
- Mahomet8 miles
- Tolono9 miles
- Philo10 miles
The county page for Champaign
- Champaign Countyseat: Urbana
Spinning reels from Piscifun matched to Champaign
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Lakes and river bends close to Champaign, in pictures
Photo: Denise Krebs, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dave Wright, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Visitors who fish out of Champaign ask these
Is there a lake a short drive from Champaign?
Kaufman Lake, under a mile west.
Which boat launch is nearest Champaign?
Closest: Lake of the Woods Boat Ramp, 8 miles.
Which fishing pier is handy for Champaign?
Nothing inside 15 miles.
Is there a minnow tank on the way out of Champaign?
Dick's Sporting Goods Champaign, a 3 miles drive.
Which Illinois county includes Champaign?
Champaign County covers it.
Must a Champaign visitor carry an Illinois license?
IDNR lists the nonresident annual fishing license at $31.50.
Which lake by Champaign spreads the widest?
Sunset Lake (CCFPD) lists about 128 acres and lies 9 miles off.
What other town pages lie close to Champaign?
Savoy (4 miles), Urbana (4 miles) and Mahomet (8 miles) lie closest.
Where can kids borrow a rod near Champaign?
Savoy Recreation Center, 4 miles away.
Which IDNR records came from water near Champaign?
Freshwater Drum, 38 lbs 4 oz, May 24, 2018 (hook and line), from Clinton Lake.