Choose another lake
MINGO, LAKE
Lake Information

County: Vermilion
Acreage: 29
Average Depth: 13.48 feet
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? 9.9hp
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 |
2020 |
Channel Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
1705 |
2020 |
Redear Sunfish |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
44400 |
2021 |
Channel Catfish |
Non-vulnerable 8 - 10" |
1705 |
2021 |
Redear Sunfish |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
72975 |
2021 |
Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
13351 |
Additional information for stocking on MINGO, LAKE
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Fair | The bluegill population is regulated by a length limit that protects the larger bluegill from overharvest, and the regulation is helping to improve the bluegill fishery. Approximately 54% of the bluegill collected during the most recent survey were longer than 6 inches. No bluegill were collected over 8 inches, but 10% of the bluegill were longer than 7 inches. The bluegill fishery has improved under the maximum size limit, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Lake Mingo has a fair bluegill fishery. See site regulation below. | |
Good | The State Hatchery System stocks channel catfish each year to maintain a quality catfish fishery. The catfish fishery in Lake Mingo commonly produces catfish from 1 to 10 pounds. With the continued efforts from the hatchery, the catfish fishery will provide anglers a great fishing opportunity. See site regulation below. | |
Fair | In 2008, a 9” length limit and a 15 per day harvest limit was placed on crappie. The regulation quickly improved the quality of the crappie fishery. For the first time in 10 years, crappie over 10 inches were collected during the 2010 fish survey. However, during the most recent fish survey the catch rate declined from 36 per hour in 2014 to just 4.5 per hour in 2016. See site regulation below. | |
Good | During the most recent survey, the catch rate for bass was slightly higher than the average catch rate for the past four surveys. Of the bass collected over 8 inches, 65% were longer than 12 inches, 19% were longer than 15 inches, and 6% were longer than 20 inches. A new bass regulation was implemented in 2015 to allow anglers to remove bass less than 15 inches and also reduce the number of bass over 15 inches allowed. The 2016 survey resulted in the highest catch rate for legal bass ever in Lake Mingo. Lake Mingo has a good bass fishery. See site regulation below. | |
Very Good | The number of redear sunfish has fluctuated over the years and may be due to the amount of aquatic vegetation in Lake Mingo around the time of sampling. Redear sunfish are heavily dependant upon having adequate amounts of aquatic vegetation. Even though the redear numbers change, there are always 7 to 9-inch redear in the fishery. On average, 68% of the redear collected are larger than 7 inches. However, in the most recent fish survey the percentage for redear sunfish over 7 inches was 100%. Reproduction has been low the past few years and is resulting in a decline in redear sunfish numbers. See site regulation below. | |
Location: Lake Mingo is located 8 miles north of Danville at Kennekuk County Park and is owned and operated by the Vermilion County Conservation District. . For more information about Lake Mingo and Kennekuk Cove County Park, visit the web page http://www.vccd.org/gikennekuk.html
Description: Lake Mingo is 170 acres and was built in 1980 and renovated in 1983. The lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet and an average depth of 13.5 feet. There is a 9.9 horsepower limit, boat decals are required, and there is one boat launch.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The IDNR Division of Fisheries has been active in the management of the fisheries in Lake Mingo since the lake was constructed. The lake currently receives stockings of channel catfish.
Additional Lake Information: There is a 9.9 horsepower limit, boat decals are required, and there is one boat launch. 2 pole and line fishing only, except bowfishing is allowed from a boat.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth Bass: 2 fish <15" and 1 fish, >15”, 3 fish daily limit
Channel Catfish: 6 fish daily limit
Muskie: 36" length limit, 1 fish daily limit
Bluegill/Redear Sunfish: 5 fish over 8”, 20 fish daily limit
Crappie: 9” length limit, 15 fish daily limit
Contact Information: Lake Mingo and Kennekuk Cove County Park 217-442-1691IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Mike Garthaus217-784-4730
There were 11 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2021.
Species | Total Fish Caught |
Largemouth Bass | 179 |
Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2021 tournaments:
1 7.10 lbs | 2 6.20 lbs | 3 6.06 lbs | 4 5.19 lbs | 5 4.75 lbs |
Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2021 tournaments:
1 | 66.00 lbs |
2 | 30.06 lbs |
3 | 27.31 lbs |
4 | 27.00 lbs |
5 | 25.13 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.
2022 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
September-10 | 20701 | Approved | Ramp | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |