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CITIZENS LAKE
Lake Information
County: Warren
Acreage: 26
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? Electric only
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
Trout stocked in fall
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2022 |
Channel Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
1200 |
2023 |
Channel Catfish |
Non-vulnerable 8 - 10" |
1200 |
Additional information for stocking on Citizen's Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Good | In 2022, 25 hybrid crappies were sampled in the fall electrofishing survey. They ranged from 7.5 to 13 inches in length. This experimental stocking of Blacknose x White Crappie hybrids in the fall of 2019 appears to have grown well. This population and any recruitment from future spawns will be evaluated. | |
Good | The bluegill population was sampled by 413 fish in the fall electrofishing surveys. Most of the sampled bluegill population is under 7.5 inches in length. The bluegill had a good average body condition value (Wr)of 93. The collection rate was very high at 8.3 fish per minute of electrofishing. This very high density may cause competition and slowed growth for the bluegill in the future. The annual fall drawdowns should be continued in the near future. | |
Good | The channel catfish population was sampled by 9 fish in the fall of 2022 electrofishing survey. They ranged in size from 13 to 25 inches in length. They had a good body condition rating with an average Wr of 96. An average of 1,200 channel catfish are stocked each fall into Citizens Lake. | |
Good | In 2022, the largemouth bass population was evaluated by 115 bass from the electrofishing survey. The largemouth bass population was represented by most of the fish from 5 to 16 inches in length, with a small number up to 20 inches in length. These fish were a combination of stocked and reproduced fish in the lake. They were in very good body condition with an average Wr of 100. | |
Good | In 2022, approximately 450 pounds of rainbow trout were stocked. The ranged from 8 to 13 inches in length from the fall fish survey. | |
Good | The redear sunfish and redear x bluegill hybrid population was sampled by 380 fish from 4 to 8.5 inches in the fall electrofishing survey. These fish also had a good body condition rating with an average Wr of 95. This population is also present in a high density with 7.6 fish collected per minute of electrofishing. | |
Location: Citizen’s Lake is located in Warren County at the west edge of Monmouth along U.S. Route 34.
Description: This small watershed impoundment of 26 acres is owned by the City of Monmouth and managed for fishing by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The lake has a south basin of 17.7 acres with a maximum depth of 33 feet and a north basin of 8.3 acres with maximum depth of 13 feet. The two basins are connected by a short channel that is spanned by a historic 1895 bridge. In 2016, the bridge was dedicated to Ken Russell the longtime IDNR District Fisheries biologist who helped relocate the bridge to Citizen’s Lake. Most of the 1.4 miles of shoreline is accessible to bank fishing. Boat ramps are available on both basins and a small trailer campground is situated near the north lake basin.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The lake and its sport fishery are evaluated annually by a fall electrofishing survey. This survey directs the fish stockings, fishing regulations and aquatic vegetation treatments. Since 1994, the water level at Citizen’s Lake has been drawn down 5.5 feet in early September as a major fish management practice. The annual fall drawndown increases the predation of small fish, which favors an increased rate of growth in both the predator and prey species.
In 2022, a fall D.C. electrofishing surveys was used to evaluate the fish population. A repeating fish kill occurred from September 2018 into the spring of 2019 at Citizen’s Lake. It was believed to have started as a low dissolved oxygen fish kill and then developed into a bacterial fish kill. The fish kill was severe on the south half of the lake and moderate on the north half of the lake. The kill appeared to remove all of the gizzard shad and black crappie populations and only left YOY largemouth bass, bluegill and green sunfish. In 2019, the lake was restocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, blacknose hybrid crappie and rainbow trout.
Additional Lake Information: All Fish - 2 pole and line fishing only.
Large or Smallmouth Bass:
- Protected Slot Length Limit with 1 fish greater than or equal to 15 inches and/or 5 fish less than 12 inches daily.
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish:
- 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Channel Catfish:
- 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Trout:
- Fall Closed Season
Contact Information: City of Monmouth Clerk’s Office: 309-734-2141IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Rob Hilsabeck309-370-5296
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