Sahara Lake
Location 101 acres
Fishing Outlook
Bluegill
Poor
Very few bluegill over 6 inches are observed during fisheries surveys at Sahara Lake. A 15 fish per day creel limit applies for bluegill and redear sunfish at Sahara Woods.
Redear Sunfish
Poor
Very few redear sunfish over 6 inches are observed during fisheries surveys at Sahara Lake. A 15 fish per day creel limit applies for bluegill and Redear Sunfish at Sahara Woods.
Crappie spp.
Poor
No crappie were collected in the 2025 survey. A 15 fish per day creel limit applies to crappie at Sahara Woods.
Largemouth Bass
Fair
Bass were collected at a rate of 42 fish/hr in the 2025 survey. Twenty-four percent of the bass were over 14 inches and 10% were over 18 inches. The largest bass collected weighed 3.3 pounds.
Channel Catfish
Fair
No channel catfish were collected in the 2025 survey. A six fish per day creel limit applies for channel catfish. Channel catfish (1000 6-inch fish) were stocked in 2025. Channel Catfish are stocked annually when available.
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 1000 |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 3000 |
| 2023 | Channel Catfish | NonVulnerable (8 - 10") | 5000 |
Contact
General Inquiries
618-994-2022
Description
The site is made up of vacated strip mine land and encompasses approximately 4,000 acres. Sahara Lake and numerous strip cuts make up approximately 270 acres of fishable water. Currently, only two boat ramps are located at Sahara Woods: one on Sahara Lake and one on a 15-acre strip cut located to the east of Sahara Lake.
Sahara Lake has a 10 horsepower or less motor restriction and all other strip cuts are electric motor only. Sahara Lake is approximately 98 acres with an accessible boat ramp, parking lot and restroom. Anglers are allowed to use "carry in" boats, such as canoes, kayaks and small Jon boats on all strip pits currently open to bank fishing. Users should use extreme caution as this site is extremely rugged and shoreline areas drop off very quickly. Anglers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with site boundaries and remain on open roads and parking lots while fishing at Sahara Woods.
Fishery History
Sportfish in the lake include Largemouth Bass, crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish and Channel Catfish. Sahara Woods offers an excellent opportunity for the adventuresome angler to fish waters that have had very limited public fishing pressure, and the angler should expect to be rewarded with a quality fishing experience. Channel Catfish are stocked annually when available.
Sahara Lake has excessive aquatic weed growth which results in very high water clarity (>10 ft). This high water clarity negatively effects the efficiency of electrofishing surveys.
Site Regulations
Sahara Lake has a 10 horsepower or less motor restriction and all other strip cuts are electric motor only. Anglers are allowed to use "carry in" boats such as canoes, kayaks and small boats on all strip pits currently open to bank fishing.
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: 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit