Eagle Lake - PRKFWA
Info / St. Clair County
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
Yes - 10 hp limit and no wake
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
None
Location 101 acres
Fishing Outlook
Muskellunge
Good
Muskie have been stocked consistently the past 10 years in Eagle Lake. The average size of Muskie collected historically in our surveys is 28 inches long. The largest Muskie collected in our surveys was collected in 2024 and was 35.2 inches long and weighed 13.1 pounds.
Largemouth Bass
Fair
This lake has a decent bass population. 81 Largemouth Bass were collected per hour of electrofishing in 2023. These bass numbers are higher than the management goal of 60 fish per hour. The bass collected in the 2023 survey show smaller sizes than previous years. Only 38% of the bass collected in 2023 were over 12 inches and only 8% were over 15 inches. No bass were collected over 18 inches.
Channel Catfish
Good
Channel Catfish occur in good numbers in Eagle Lake. Supplemental stocking of Channel Catfish might help contribute to the population in this lake. A good percent of Channel Catfish collected in our surveys are over 16 inches, but not many are over 24 inches. Bigger Channel Catfish are most likely in Eagle Lake but might reside in deeper water where our electrofishing in not as effective.
Crappie spp.
Average
The crappie fishing can be good with both White and Black Crappie present in Eagle Lake. Offshore habitat structures have been placed in Eagle Lake. White Crappie appear to be more abundant than Black Crappie and historically their size structure looked good with over 50% of the White Crappie collected in surveys being over the 9-inch minimum length limit. That number decreased in our 2023 survey with only 4 White Crappie collected per hour and 25% being over the 9- inch minimum size limit. There is likely a good population of White and Black Crappie present in the lake.
Bluegill
Poor
Bluegill are very abundant in the lake but their average size is small. In our 2023 electrofishing survey we collected 376 Bluegill per hour, but none of those were over 6 inches.
| 2026 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 2525 |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 3000 |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | Adult | 210 |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 1515 |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | Adult | 210 |
Contact
IDNR Fisheries Biologist
3321 Highway 111 Granite City, IL 62040
Send Message
Office: (618) 931-0270; Work Cell: (217) 730-6968
Description
This is a 101-acre strip pit lake with maximum depths approaching 60 feet. The fishery of the lake is managed by IDNR. The shoreline of the lake includes steep rocky banks with some woody structure. There is one concrete boat ramp on the lake. There is some shoreline access, but most access is limited for bank fishing. There is a 10-horsepower limit for boats and a ‘NO WAKE’ limit for motors over 10 horsepower.Fishery History
The IDNR Division of Fisheries routinely monitors the status of the fishery of Eagle Lake. Currently fish electrofishing surveys are conducted every year and netting surveys are conducted in the spring to assess Muskie stockings. Recent stockings include supplemental stocking of Channel Catfish, and annual stocking of Muskie. Because of its close proximity to the Kaskaskia River, Eagle Lake can become connected with the river during high flood events. Because of this, some river fish are present in Eagle Lake such as buffalo, carp, and gar. Gizzard Shad are very abundant and are the main prey item for sportfish in Eagle Lake. Many small sunfish are also present in Eagle Lake and provide food for sportfish.
Other species and hybrid groups recently collected in surveys include Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Buffalo, Smallmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, Grass Carp, Green Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Freshwater Drum, Flathead Catfish, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead, and Spotted Gar.
Site Regulations
Eagle Lake has a 10 horsepower motor limit and a no wake speed limit for boat motors over 10 horsepower.
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; bow fishing is allowed
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Largemouth Bass: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black or Hybrid Crappie: 9 inch Minimum Length Limit; 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Muskellunge: Statewide regulation applies. 36 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit