Lincoln Trail Lake
Location 137 acres
Fishing Outlook
Warmouth
Fair
Warmouth are present in the lake, but are not very abundant. Anglers may catch an occasional Warmouth up to 8 inches and ½ pound.
Black Crappie
Excellent
Black Crappie are generally abundant. Anglers may catch crappie up to 17 inches and 2+ pounds.
Walleye
Developing
Walleye fingerlings (2”) have been stocked in 2010 and 2014. It will take a few years for this fishery to develop. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit; 14" minimum length limit (Walleye, sauger or their hybrids)
Redear Sunfish
Good
Redear Sunfish numbers are steady and fishing good. Anglers may catch redear over 12 inches and 1+ pounds!
Channel Catfish
Average
Channel Catfish are maintained only through annual stockings. The average catch is from 3/4 - 2 lbs., with some catfish 10+ pounds caught. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit; no length limit.
Largemouth Bass
Excellent
Largemouth Bass are very abundant due to good spawning success. Anglers are allowed to keep smaller bass to help thin the population. This is encouraged and will help improve growth rates for the remaining bass and will benefit the entire fishery. Limiting the harvest of bass over the size limit will help maintain the highest quality bass fishing possible. All bass between 14-18 inches must be released immediately to ensure a high quality fishery and sufficient predation pressure on bluegill. Good numbers of bass from ½-2 pounds are present with fish over 6 pounds caught occasionally. Site Regulation: Both large and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches or 18 inches and longer MAY BE KEPT. There is a four (4) fish daily creel limit for bass, but only one of the four can be larger than 18 inches. NOTE: A 2018 consumption advisory of DO NOT EAT exists for Largemouth Bass from this lake. Please consult the Illinois Consumption Guide before consuming any Largemouth Bass from this lake.
Bluegill
Excellent
Bluegill fishing is excellent and there are many fish exceeding 8 inches and from 1/4 - 3/4 lbs. Voluntary limits on harvest are encouraged. Research indicates that due to competition for prime nesting locations, the presence of large male Bluegill delays maturation and improves growth of smaller male Bluegill. The overharvest of large male Bluegill can result in angler-induced stunting, which is difficult to correct.
| 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 |
| 2023 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 5480 |
Contact
Description
Lincoln Trail Lake is a man-made impoundment constructed in 1956. The surface area is 137 acres with a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 16 feet. The lake is usually very clear as a result of being only moderately fertile with an abundance of aquatic plants. The clear water can make fishing challenging. Numerous bank fishing sites are available with many fishing piers/docks recently built. Several handicap accessible piers are present. Public boat launching facilities are available with handicap accessibility.Fishery History
The fish population in Lincoln Trail Lake is surveyed intensively every 2 years. Fish are collected by electrofishing, then measured and weighed before fish are released alive back in the lake. Aquatic vegetation is monitored annually. Desirable species of aquatic plants are being introduced to help compete for limited nutrients against undesirable plants, prevent shoreline erosion, and provide valuable fish habitat. Eurasian milfoil has infested the lake and plans have been made to treat this in 2016. A few anglers have suggested stocking shad to improve bass growth rates. Repeated studies in small lakes, like Lincoln Trail Lake, have proven conclusively that introducing shad quickly results in poor quality fishing for all species, including bass! Bass recruitment is reduced significantly with shad present. Green Sunfish, Yellow Bullheads, and White Suckers are present in low to moderate numbers and few are caught.Site Regulations
Outboard motors are limited to 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
- 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
