Charleston Side Channel Lake
Info / Coles County
Family Friendly
Yes
Handicap Access
Yes
Boat Fishing
Yes - Unrestricted, no wake entire lake
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
Yes
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
Location 317 acres
Fishing Outlook
Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye)
Excellent
Saugeye (sauger X walleye hybrids) are stocked annually from IDNR hatcheries which has developed a good fishery. Saugeye are abundant from 12 to 26 inches, with fish in excess of 6 lbs. have been caught in the lake annually. Fishing prospects are rated as excellent for 2016. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily creel limit, 14" minimum length limit.
Common Carp
Excellent
Common Carp are abundant with fish exceeding 8 lbs. Fishing prospects are rated as excellent for 2016.
Channel Catfish
Good
Channel Catfish are abundant in the lake. The average catch goes from 3/4 - 2 ½ lbs., with the occasional fish over 10 pounds caught. Fishing prospects are rated as good for 2016. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily creel limit, no minimum length limit.
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)
Good
Hybrid striped bass (striped bass X white bass hybrids) are stocked annually from IDNR hatcheries. Good numbers of hybrid striped bass have been caught in recent years by anglers. Hybrids in excess of 15 lbs are reported caught and have been collected in fish population surveys. Fishing prospects are rated as good for 2016. Site Regulation: 3 fish daily creel limit, 17" minimum length limit.
Largemouth Bass
Fair
Largemouth Bass are moderate in abundance due to a lack of aquatic vegetation for nursery habitat. Improved numbers of bass from ½-2 lbs. are present with fish over 6 lbs. caught on occasion. Fishing prospects are rated as fair for 2016. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily creel limit, 14" minimum length limit.
Flathead Catfish
Poor
Flathead Catfish are low in abundance. Anglers catch a few large flatheads infrequently. Catch and release is encouraged. Fishing prospects are rated as poor for 2016.
Crappie spp.
Excellent
Crappie, both white and black, are abundant. Growth rates vary from slow to fast within this population. Anglers may catch crappie up to 14 inches and 1+ lbs. Fishing prospects are rated as excellent for 2016. Site Regulation: 10 fish daily creel limit for fish under 10"; 10 fish daily creel limit for fish 10" or longer.
Bluegill
Fair
Bluegill fishing is fair. Bluegill are abundant, with a few fish exceeding 8 inches. The body condition is good. Fishing prospects are rated as fair - good for 2016.
Freshwater Drum
Good
Freshwater Drum, commonly called drum “perch”, are moderately abundant with fish exceeding 5 lbs.
| 2025 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 6210 |
| 2025 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 18550 |
| 2024 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 13930 |
| 2024 | Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 16686 |
| 2023 | Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 12636 |
Contact
Description
Charleston Lower Channel Lake is the impounded Embarras River. The lake covers 330 surface acres with a maximum depth of 12 feet and average depth of 5.7 feet. The lake is the primary water supply for the City of Charleston and is separated from the Embarras River by a dike that provides excellent shoreline access. Recreational opportunities include fishing and limited boating. Public boat launching facilities are available. There is a no-wake regulation in effect on the entire lake.Fishery History
The fish population in Charleston Side Channel Lake is intensively surveyed every two years. The fish are measured, weighed, and scales collected before releasing them alive. Annual evaluations of Saugeye and Hybrid Striped Bass have been made. Saugeye and Hybrid Striped Bass populations have been maintained by annual stockings. Desirable species of aquatic vegetation have been introduced in an attempt to establish populations to improve water quality, reduce shoreline erosion, and provide valuable and necessary fish habitat. Yellow Bass, Longear Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Warmouth and Yellow Bullheads are present, but are seldom harvested by anglers due to the small size attained by these species.
Site Regulations
Unrestricted motor size and no wake regulation in effect on the entire lake.
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
- Hybrid Walleye: 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass: 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 fish greater than 10 inches and 10 fish less than or equal to 10 inches
Additional Information
Planning to eat your catch? Fish Consumption Advisory information can be found here: Fish Consumption Advisory PageBath Map
