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CANTON LAKE
Lake Information
County: Fulton
Acreage: 220
Average Depth: 14.01 feet
Shoreline Length: 7.2 miles
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? 85hp
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2023 |
Largemouth Bass |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
1015 |
2023 |
Muskellunge |
Adult |
252 |
2024 |
Blue Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
3300 |
2024 |
Largemouth Bass |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
1064 |
2024 |
Muskellunge |
Adult |
251 |
Additional information for stocking on Canton Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Good | In 1999 and 2001, blue catfish were stocked into Canton Lake in three stockings with a total of 15,200 fish stocked. At stocking these fish averaged 4" to 8.5" in length. In 2003, 50 blue catfish were sampled by D.C. electrofishing. These fish ranged in size from 8.7 to 17.7 inches. Blue catfish have been collected annually during targeted low pulse electrofishing surveys. Young of the Year fish were collected in 2012 and 2018. This showed natural reproduction, and recruitment has been occurring in Canton Lake. In 2024, 14 blue catfish from 9.2 to 36.3 inches were collected by low pulse D.C. boat electrofishing. The present blue catfish population in Canton Lake is at a low density with large individuals present. The body condition was very high at an average Wr of 136. In 2024, the stocking of blue catfish resumed to increase the future population density. 3,300 blue catfish at an average length of 4 inches were stocked on 8/12/2024. | |
Poor | The bluegill population, catch per unit of effort, was 3.1 fish per minute in 2024. The Proportional Stock Density (PSD)value was very low at 17, and the percentage of fish (RSD7) over 7 inches was awful at 0. The average body condition was an average rating at 93. The bluegill population has been slow growing with stunting occurring before seven inches in length. This poor-quality bluegill fishery is mainly due to severe food and space competition with the carp, yellow bass and now gizzard shad. | |
Excellent | The population has continued to improve in body condition and population levels since 1992. The Relative weight (WR) has improved from poor condition in 1992 to excellent condition by 1999. The gizzard shad forage base is probably responsible for the body condition improvement. In 2024, 7 fish were collected by the electrofishing survey and 35 fish in the spring trap net survey. The body condition was good at a 92 average, and 63% of the fish were over 18 inches in length. The turbid water conditions have permitted natural reproduction and recruitment to maintain the channel catfish population. | |
Good | In 2024, these populations were sampled by electrofishing and trap nets. The quality of the crappie populations had improved dramatically over the past 10 years up to 2020. Now the white crappie population is doing very good, while the black crappie population has a decreased size structure. The white crappie are present in a much higher density of quality fish. The white crappie population values showed 74% of the fish over 10 inches and the black crappie values showed 3% of the fish over 10 inches. The WR (Relative weight) values were at 97 for white crappie and 84 for black crappie. In 2025, a moderate density of the fish will be available from 9 to 12 inches in length and in good body condition with the larger fish being white crappie. | |
Good | Flathead catfish have been annually sampled in Canton Lake since 2001 during the annual spring boat electrofishing survey or during targeted summer boat electrofishing surveys. The current flathead catfish population is present in a moderate density with natural reproduction and recruitment occurring. In 2024, 61 flathead catfish were sampled by low pulse D.C. electrofishing surveys. The size range was from 7.1 to 39.8 inches in length. The body condition was very good at an average Wr of 118. In 2024, IDNR Fisheries also recaptured one of the originally PIT tagged and stocked Flathead Catfish from the Illinois River. The fish was originally stocked on 12/15/1998 at 16.7 inches in length and 1.6 pounds. On 6/11/2024, it was recaptured at 38.6 inches in length and 30.8 pounds. That would make this fish at least 29 years old if it was a 2 year old at stocking! | |
Good | In 2024, the electrofishing catch per unit for bass over 8 inches was at 1.7 fish/minute which is above the minimum goal of at least 1 fish per minute. Maintaining a stable bass population density will require consistent recruitment at least every other year. The size distribution and the percentage of bass over 15 and 18 inches maintained a very good level in 2024. 40% were over 15 inches and 15% were over 18 inches. The body condition of bass at all sizes has remained good with the introduction of the gizzard shad. However, the recruitment of bass to the population is still low and this has probably been the main factor limiting the bass density. In 2011 through 2013, no bass were stocked. In 2014, 208 bass at 8 inches long were stocked. In 2016, 2242 bass at 4.1 inches long were stocked on 8/22/2016. In 2017, no bass stocking occurred. In 2018, 236,250 largemouth bass at .3 inches were stocked on 6/1/2018. In 2019, no largemouth bass were stocked into Canton Lake. In 2020, 1,033 largemouth bass at 4 inches were stocked on 8/6/2020. In 2021, 805 largemouth bass at 8 inches were stocked on 5/6/2021, and 1,068 bass at 4 inches were stocked on 9/1/2021. And in 2022, 2,590 largemouth bass at 4 inches were stocked on 8/4/2022. And in 2023, 1,015 largemouth bass at 4 inches were stocked on 8/9/2023. And in 2024, 1,064 largemouth bass at 4 inches were stocked on 8/8/2024. | |
Average | Pure muskie were first stocked into Canton Lake in 2001. Since 2006 the muskie stocking has occurred almost annually. In 2024, 251 muskie at 12.85 inches long were stocked on 9/27/2023. In 2024, 6 muskie were sampled in the spring trap net survey. They ranged from 24.9 to 37.7 inches in length and were in excellent body condition with an average Wr of 112. The shad forage base will provide fast growth in Canton Lake. The main mortality in Canton Lake for muskie will probably be escapement over the spillway during annual high-water events. | |
Location: Canton Lake is located 1 mile northest of the town of Canton in Fulton County.
Description: Canton Lake is a 250-acre lake constructed in 1939 and was the primary potable water source for the city of Canton. Canton Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. This water reservoir holds approximately 3,500 acre feet of water with 7.2 miles of shoreline. The 9,728 acre watershed is 82% agricultural, 12% woodland, and 6% municipal and residential. Historical water quality samples revealed a secchi disk average of 23 inches, a pH of 8.3, and total alkalinity of 135 mg/L. Conductivity readings averaged 375 umhos.
No submerged rooted aquatic vegetation is present in Canton Lake.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The overall sport fishery of Canton Lake has been at an average level over the last 20 years. The high density carp population and sedimentation problem have a direct negative effect of the rooted, submerged aquatic plants. With turbid water conditions, the carp thrive and continue the poor water quality, thus affecting the food chain and sport fish population. The addition of gizzard shad and yellow bass have made Canton Lake very difficult to manage for quality largemouth bass and bluegill.
IDNR conducts annual surveys to measure trends in fishery population dynamics, angling regulations and progress toward management goals.
The sport fishery in Canton Lake has developed into a quality location for flathead, blue and channel catfish. In 1997, 1998 and 1999, a total of 990 flathead catfish were stocked into Canton lake from the Illinois River periodically from June until January. In 1999 and 2001, blue catfish were stocked into Canton Lake in three stockings with a total of 15,200 fish stocked. All three species have established naturally reproducing populations in Canton Lake with quality fish present.
Starting in 2000, pure muskie have been stocked semiannually in Canton Lake.
Supplemental largemouth bass stockings have occurred when surplus fish are available from the state hatchery. Food competition and/or lack of desirable food (aquatic insects, larval fish) for young bass under nine inches is probably a major factor in poor recruitment of young bass to larger sizes in Canton Lake. Once reaching approximately nine inches, the bass are able to eat larger food (small fish) and not have the food source competition with yellow bass, crappie, bluegill and carp.
Additional species that have historically been collected in limited numbers include golden shiner, black bullhead, white sucker, green wunfish, yellow bullhead, northern pike and white catfish.
Additional Lake Information: 2 pole and line fishing only.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: 15" minimum length limit, 3 fish daily limit (includes all Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass singly or in aggregate)
Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish: 6 fish daily limit
Tiger Muskie and Muskie: 42" minimum length limit, 1 fish daily limit
Contact Information: Canton City Hall 309-647-0020IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Rob Hilsabeck309-370-5296
Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.
Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.
| 2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
| Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
| May-14 | 28855 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-11 | 28859 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-09 | 28862 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-06 | 28865 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-09 | 27522 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-23 | 28867 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| September-07 | 27535 | Approved | Canton Lake | boathook | 22 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
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