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CLINTON LAKE


Lake Information

County: DeWitt

Acreage: 4895

Average Depth: 15.00 feet

Shoreline Length: 129.9 miles

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? Unrestricted

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? Yes

Skiing? Yes

Swimming? Yes

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? Yes

North Fork West Side Weldon Access DeWitt Bridge Marina Mascoutin Wetland Area Parnell Access Rt. 10 Shore Dam


    Click on area names for a more detailed map.
     Dam, DeWitt Bridge, Marina, Mascoutin State Park, North Fork,
     Parnell Access, Rt. 10 Shore, Weldon Access, West Side,
     Wetland Area

Maps are not intended for navigation.


There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2022

Blacknose Crappie

Fingerling 1 - 3"

20235

2022

Blue Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

48950

2022

Largemouth Bass

Fry

564750

2022

Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

17914

2022

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

212015

2023

Black Crappie

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

13714

2023

Black Crappie

Fingerling 1 - 3"

5300

2023

Blue Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

26933

2023

Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

6167

2023

Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)

Fingerling 1 - 3"

55701

2023

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

160346

2023

White Crappie

Fingerling 1 - 3"

44060


Additional information for stocking on Clinton Lake


Fishing Outlook  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUE CATFISH

Average

A catfish survey was conducted in the fall of 2018 to assess the stocking of blue catfish. Blue catfish ranged in size from 9 inches to 29 inches. Blue catfish have been stocked at a low rate into Clinton Lake since 2014. See site regulation below.

CRAPPIE

Excellent

During the most recent survey, the catch rate for Black Crappie was 8.6 Black Crappie per hour and the catch rate for Blacknose Crappie was 0.6 per hour. The White Crappie catch rate during the most recent survey was 34.6 crappie per hour. The catch rate objective is 25 per hour for White Crappie and 15 per hour for Black Crappie. Approximately 12% of the White Crappie were longer than 10 inches and 8.6% of the Black Crappie were longer than 10 inches. See site regulation below.

HYBRID STRIPED BASS (WIPERS)

Good

Hybrid Striped Bass were first stocked in Clinton Lake in 1978. During the last spring gill netting survey, Hybrid Striped Bass were collected at a rate of 12.3 per net. The average catch rate is 16.7 hybrids per net. The hybrid striped bass ranged in size from 14.5 inches to 27 inches. The heaviest hybrid weighed 13.84 pounds and the average weight was 5.54 pounds. Clinton Lake has a good Hybrid Striped Bass fishery and is maintained by annual stockings. See site regulation below.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Excellent

The most recent survey resulted in a catch rate of 75.1 bass per hour and was below the management objective of 80 bass per hour. The average catch rate since 2011 is 90.2 bass per hour. There are good numbers of quality bass in the lake, with 70% being over 12 inches in length and 31% over 15 inches. Clinton Lake has an excellent bass population. See site regulation below.

WALLEYE

Good

The catch rate for Walleye during the most recent survey was 4.3 Walleye per hour. The average catch rate since 2011 is 5.3 walleye per hour. Of the Walleye collected over 10 inches, 62% were longer than 15 inches and 15% were longer than 20 inches. The fishery is maintained from annual stockings. Site Regulation: See site regulation below.

WHITE BASS

Fair

The catch rate in the most recent survey was 5.1 White Bass per hour and was below the management objective of 10 to 20 White Bass per hour. See site regulation below.

Location: Clinton Lake is located in DeWitt County 10 miles east of Clinton, IL.

Description: This 4,895 acre lake was constructed to serve as a cooling reservoir for the Clinton Nuclear Power Station. The lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet and an average depth of 15 feet. Clinton Lake is No Wake for all boats from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise with the exception of waterfowl hunters. Various portions of the lake are designated as no-wake, electric motor only, or no boat areas for safety and security reasons. All IDNR ramps are now equipped with wheelchair accessible boat docks. There are 17 Class AA campsites, 286 Class A campsites and 5 Class B/S campsites at Clinton Lake with showers and almost all are adaptable to either tents, trailers or motor homes. Click here to reserve a campsite. Bowfishing is allowed on certain areas of the lake.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The IDNR Division of Fisheries has been active in the management of the fisheries in Clinton Lake since the lake opened in 1979. The lake receives stockings of walleye, hybrid striped bass, blue catfish, and crappie.

Additional Lake Information: Bowfishing is allowed on certain areas of the lake. All IDNR ramps are now equipped with wheelchair accessible boat docks.

Two pole and line fishing only, except above Davenport and Parnell bridges where trotlines, jugs and bank poles are permitted; except bowfishing is allowed across the lake with a safety distance.

From 10 Oct through 31 March the area between the DeWitt and Rt 48 bridges are closed to fishing.

Site Regulations:
Largmouth/Smallmouth Bass; 3 fish daily limit, 16" minimum length limit
Walleye: 3 fish daily limit, 18" length limit
Channel Catfish/Blue Catfish: 10 fish daily limit, no length limit
Hybrid Striped/White/Striped Bass: 10 fish limit of which only 3 may be over 17" in length
Crappie: 15 fish daily limit with no more than 5 fish less than 10” and 10 fish greater than or equal to 10”

Contact Information:
Site Office
217-935-8722
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Mike Garthaus
217-784-4730

There were 69 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2023.

Species Total Fish Caught
Blue Catfish 35
Channel Catfish 42
Crappie 334
Hybrid Striped Bass 1
Largemouth Bass 2752

Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2023 tournaments:

1     7.94 lbs
2     7.92 lbs
3     7.75 lbs
4     7.44 lbs
5     7.31 lbs

Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2023 tournaments:

1 626.01 lbs
2 468.13 lbs
3 349.05 lbs
4 313.50 lbs
5 309.32 lbs


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.

2024 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date ID Approval Ramp Location Bank/Boat
Hook/Bow
Max Boats Species Youth? Open to Public?
October-0525201ApprovedMarina boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
NoNo
October-0526919ApprovedMarina boat
hook
40Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
NoYes
October-0627154ApprovedMascoutin State Park boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
YesYes
October-12
*October-13
25513ApprovedMarina boat
hook
19Largemouth Bass
NoYes
October-1225711ApprovedMascoutin State Park boat
hook
20Crappie
NoYes
October-1226047ApprovedMascoutin State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
NoYes
October-19
*October-20
25297ApprovedMarina boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoNo
October-1926025ApprovedMarina boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
NoYes
October-19
*October-20
26575ApprovedMarina boat
hook
40Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
NoYes
October-2027128ApprovedMarina boat
hook
50Crappie
NoYes
November-0227167ApprovedMarina boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
NoYes
November-16
*November-17
26576ApprovedMarina boat
hook
50Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
NoYes
December-07
*December-08
26577ApprovedMarina boat
hook
50Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
NoYes