Lincoln Trail Lake
Location 137 acres
Fishing Outlook
Black Crappie
Good
Black Crappie are moderately abundant with good growth.
Redear Sunfish
Excellent
Redear Sunfish abundance is very good, with great growth.
Channel Catfish
Excellent
Channel Catfish are stocked annually by IDNR hatcheries. Channel catfish abundance and size are both healthy.
Largemouth Bass
Very Good
Largemouth Bass are very abundant due to the abundance of good spawning/nursery habitat (aquatic vegetation). Abundances are further managed to remain high to keep predation pressure high on panfish populations, which improves panfish growth rates.
Bluegill
Excellent
Bluegill are abundant with very good growth. The current regulation is designed to limit the harvest of larger male bluegill, which research has shown promotes better growth in Bluegill populations. Anglers are encouraged to harvest their "unders", as this helps reduce competition and improves growth rates for the remaining panfish.
| 2026 | Channel Catfish | NonVulnerable (8 - 10") | 5480 |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 4384 |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | Adult | 2109 |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 2192 |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | NonVulnerable (8 - 10") | 1179 |
Contact
Description
Lincoln Trail Lake is 137 acres with a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. Numerous bank fishing areas are available around the lake. ADA accessible fishing piers are located at both boat launches. Larger fishing boats will likely prefer to launch at the newer boat ramp near the dam, as the ramp on the northeast end of the lake can be shallow at times.Fishery History
Lincoln Trail Lake is intensively managed to provide quality panfishing (particularly large Bluegill and Redear Sunfish). In order to achieve this, the Largemouth Bass population is managed to maintain a high density of intermediately sized bass, which predate on smaller panfish and allow the remaining panfish to grow faster and larger. Channel Catfish are stocked annually to provide an additional fishery.Site Regulations
The entire lake is No Wake.
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
- Bluegill or Redear Sunfish: 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 fish greater than or equal to 9 inches
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of fish greater than or equal to 14 inches and less than 18 inches; 4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 fish greater than or equal to 18 inches
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Additional Information
Planning to eat your catch? Fish Consumption Advisory information can be found here: Fish Consumption Advisory PageBath Map
