Top Fishing Destinations in Illinois: Rend Lake

Top Fishing Destinations in Illinois: Rend Lake

By: Jon Giacalone

Rend Lake is the second largest impoundment in Illinois, and one of the state's best for largemouth bass, crappie and white bass. Good numbers of channel and flathead catfish also provide great action. Encompassing a total of 18,900 acres, along with excellent lake facilities, Rend Lake is one of southern Illinois' premier multi-recreational destinations.

Rend Lake offers good fishing throughout most of the year, including during mild winters. Weeds and natural rock are very limited, but riprap, flooded trees and stumps provide abundant habitat. Generally, riprap is the dominant cover south of Highway 154, while the northern portion of the lake is laced with stumps and downed timber.


Flipping is a popular casting method on the lake, if water levels are high enough to be in the "bushes". Fish-holding cover has been further improved by the addition of brush cribs. Many Christmas tree cribs have been placed in water less than 8 feet deep. Some locations have more than 600 trees per site, covering more than 15,000 square feet, and more cribs are added every year.

In addition, while most reservoirs fill with age, certain sections of Rend Lake have become better. Modern coal mining, called long-walling,removes coal in panels about 800 feet wide and 2 miles or more in length. As the panels become vacant and supporting jacks are removed, the overlying earth collapses and fills in the shaft. The collapse continues toward the surface until the lake bottom (trees and all) subsides. New shorelines are formed and forest becomes flooded trees and buck bush.

Interactive Lake Map

To find a detailed lake map and real-time fishing reports follow the Rend Lake waterway page on Fishidy.




Here are some tips for locating and catching fish on Rend Lake:

● Along the north shore of Marcum Branch, there is a little cove with a shallow, clay bottom and shoreline deadfalls that offers excellent spawning sites for crappie and largemouth bass. Crappie are taken on minnows or small tube jigs during April and May, while jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are excellent presentations for largemouth during this same period.

● Just to the north of Campers Point, is a popular spot for white bass and hybrid striped bass all year long. Many fishermen prefer drifting. During summer, concentrate on the shallower shelf and cast slab spoons. There are a few dozer piles; when stumps were stacked and burned before impoundment, and they can cause hang-ups. If aggressively feeding fish are not present, try drifting over the deep water to the south.

● All of the shallow water east of the Highway 37 bridge is excellent for spring bass and bluegill. Bass tournament anglers often fish the area because it offers slightly deeper water and large flooded trees. After spawning, big bass tend to move into the tree roots or under deadfalls to rest and look for easy meals. Successful anglers use plastic worms or jigs and grubs very close to cover. Flipping is popular for working Rend's drowned wood and deadfalls, especially when water levels are high.

● Cribs and a few deadfalls along the south side of Jackie Branch are favorite spots for local crappie experts. During spring high water, bass and crappie can be found along the road fill (County Road 800E). There is enough clearance for low profile boats to get under the bridge to fish near the tailings pond spillway, although the fishing is usually better east of the highway.

● In the north end of the Big Muddy Arm, the entire area between the railroad fill and the sub-impoundment dam holds crappie, bluegill and channel catfish, but the best region is along the 6-to 8-foot deep river channel. Use jigs or minnows very close to the standing trees.

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