Lake Profile -- CLINTON LAKE

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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

    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
2024	Blue Catfish	Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"	48950
2024	Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)	Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"	15125
2024	Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)	Fingerling 1 - 3"	57905
2024	Walleye	Fingerling 1 - 3"	236550
2025	Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)	Fingerling 1 - 3"	63530
2025	Walleye	Fingerling 1 - 3"	238629

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

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.

2026 Approved Tournaments
Start Date	ID	Open to Public?	Approval	Ramp Location	Bank/Boat Hook/Bow	Max Boats	Species	Youth?
February-28	29842	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
March-21	29843	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
March-28	29971	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	29	Crappie	No
March-29	29888	No	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	10	Largemouth Bass	No
April-02 *April-03	29452	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	No
April-04	29590	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
April-11	29314	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
April-11	29582	No	Pending	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
April-12	29298	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	51	Largemouth Bass	No
April-12	29594	No	Pending	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
April-18	29333	No	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No
April-18	29502	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
April-18	29598	No	Pending	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
April-18 *April-19	29844	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
April-19	29305	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes
April-19	29606	No	Pending	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
April-25	29286	No	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass	No
April-25	29295	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No
April-25	29340	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
April-26	29360	Yes	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	Yes
April-26	30161	No	Pending	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No
May-02	29614	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
May-02	30204	No	Pending	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Crappie	No
May-03	29611	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
May-09	29617	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
May-16	29331	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	No
May-16	29464	No	Approved	Weldon Access	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
May-16	29620	No	Pending	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
May-16 *May-17	29845	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish	No
May-17	29625	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
May-30	29530	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
June-06	29407	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
June-13 *June-14	29616	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No
June-14	29513	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass	No
June-27	29537	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
July-18	29375	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	No
July-25	29549	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
July-26	29725	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	Yes
August-02	29545	Yes	Approved	Weldon Access	boat hook	24	Largemouth Bass	No
August-15	29458	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
August-22	29561	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
August-22 *August-23	29848	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
September-05	29424	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	No
September-12	29575	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
September-12	29682	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	Yes
September-13	29958	No	Approved	Weldon Access	boat hook	11	Largemouth Bass	No
September-19 *September-20	29359	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	41	Largemouth Bass	No
September-19 *September-20	29849	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
September-26	29318	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No
September-26	29425	Yes	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No
September-27	29533	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes
October-03	29916	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	35	Largemouth Bass	Yes
October-08 *October-09	29509	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-10	29850	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
October-11	29851	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No
October-17 *October-18	29554	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No
October-17	30175	Yes	Pending	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Crappie	No
October-23 *October-24	29688	No	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
October-24	30128	Yes	Approved	Marina	boat hook	29	Crappie	No

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CLINTON LAKE

Lake Information

Recreational Amenities

Maps are not intended for navigation.

There are no zebra mussels in this lake.

Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

Species

Rank

Fish Status