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

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.

2024–2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date	ID	Approval	Ramp Location	Bank/Boat Hook/Bow	Max Boats	Species	Youth?	Open to Public?
December-07 *December-08	26577	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
March-29	27261	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Crappie	No	Yes
April-05	27245	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-05	27364	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
April-05 *April-06	27471	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-06	27307	Approved	Marina	boat hook	17	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-06	27329	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	No
April-12	27272	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes	Yes
April-12	28054	Pending	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
April-13	27308	Approved	Marina	boat hook	17	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-13	27333	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	No
April-13	27514	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	20	Crappie	No	No
April-13	27666	Pending	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-17 *April-18	28293	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	No
April-19	27287	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
April-19	27418	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-19	27638	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	No
April-24 *April-25	27258	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
April-26	27274	Approved	Marina	boat hook	35	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
April-26	27431	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
April-26	27677	Approved	Marina	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass	No	No
May-03	27197	Approved	Marina	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
May-04	28072	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
May-10	27248	Approved	Marina	boat hook	70	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
May-10	27379	Pending	North Fork	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass	No	No
May-17 *May-18	27916	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	No
May-18	27883	Approved	Marina	boat hook	35	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
May-18	28031	Approved	Marina	boat hook	9	Largemouth Bass	No	No
May-22	28179	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	Yes	No
May-24	27277	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
May-31 *June-01	27380	Approved	Marina	boat hook	75	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
June-07	27251	Approved	Marina	boat hook	70	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-21	27279	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-21	27795	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	No
June-29	27446	Approved	Marina	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
July-12	27253	Approved	Marina	boat hook	70	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-20	27244	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
July-26	27280	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-27	28144	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	No
August-09	27283	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-17	27242	Approved	Marina	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
August-23	27254	Approved	Marina	boat hook	70	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-13	27288	Approved	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-14	28032	Approved	Marina	boat hook	9	Largemouth Bass	No	No
September-20	27255	Approved	Marina	boat hook	70	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-20	27289	Pending	Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-24	27290	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes	No
September-27	27285	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-28	27226	Approved	Marina	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
October-04	27470	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
October-04	28116	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
October-11	27257	Approved	Marina	boat hook	70	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
October-18	27271	Approved	Mascoutin State Park	boat hook	25	Crappie	No	Yes
October-18	27779	Approved	Marina	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
October-19	27256	Approved	Marina	boat hook	60	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
November-01	28174	Approved	Marina	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes

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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