Choose another lake
PARIS WEST LAKE
Lake Information
County: Edgar
Acreage: 75
Average Depth: 3.94 feet
Shoreline Length: 4.5 miles
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? No Motors
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 |
2022 |
Channel Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
2280 |
2022 |
Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye) |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
6086 |
2023 |
Channel Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
2280 |
Additional information for stocking on Paris West Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Fair | Bluegill fishing is fair. Few fish exceed 7.5 inches, but most have a heavy body weight. | |
Good | Common carp are abundant with fish exceeding 10 lbs. Fishing quality is rated as good. Bow fishing is allowed. | |
Excellent | Channel catfish are stocked by IDNR hatcheries and very abundant in these lakes. The average catch goes from 3/4 - 5 pounds, with the occasional fish over 10 pounds caught. Fishing prospects are rated as excellent for 2016! Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit, no length limit. | |
Good | Crappie, both white and black, are moderate in abundance. Anglers may catch crappie up to 13+ inches and 1+ pounds. Fishing prospects for 2016 are good. | |
Fair | Flathead catfish are low in abundance. Anglers catch a few large flatheads infrequently. Catch-and-release for flathead catfish is encouraged. Fishing quality is rated as poor-fair. | |
Fair | Hybrid striped bass were initially stocked in 2010. Numbers of hybrid striped bass have been caught in recent years by anglers. Catch rates of hybrid striped bass have been low in recent surveys, but an 11.7 lbs. fish was collected from the west lake in 2015. Fishing quality is rated as fair-good for 2016. Site Regulation: no limit under 17"; 3 fish daily 17" and above. | |
Excellent | Largemouth bass are abundant with bass from 1.2 – 3 pounds common. Fish over 6 pounds are caught on occasion. The largest bass collected, 21” and 6.4 lbs. Fishing quality is rated as excellent for both size structure and density for 2016! Site Regulation: both large and smallmouth, 6 fish daily limit; 14-inch minimum length. | |
Good | Saugeye (sauger X walleye hybrids) were initially stocked in 2010. Saugeye are increasing in abundance with anglers reporting good catches of 14”+ saugeye. The 2014 and 2015 year classes look strong. Fishing quality is rated as good for 2016 as this population is developing well. Site Regulation: saugeye, walleye, and sauger, 6 fish daily limit; 14-inch minimum length. | |
Location: Paris Twin Lakes are located on Route 1 on the north edge of Paris in Edgar County.
Description: The two lakes have a combined surface acreage of 220 acres. Bank fishing access is abundant and public boat launching facilities are available. Public boat launching facilities are available on each lake and the City of Paris (217-465-7601) collects a boating access fee. All tournaments must be scheduled through ifishillinios.org.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The fish populations of the Paris Twin Lakes are intensively surveyed every two years, primarily by electrofishing. The fish are measured, weighed, and scales collected for aging before releasing the fish alive. Hybrid striped bass and saugeye populations are stocked annually through the IDNR hatcheries and are surveyed annually.
Yellow bass, longear sunfish, green sunfish, and yellow bullheads are present, but are seldom harvested by fishermen due to the small size attained by most of these species. Gizzard shad and golden shiners are the primary forage.
Additional Lake Information: Public boat launching facilities are available on each lake and the City of Paris (217-465-7601) collects a boating access fee. All tournaments must be scheduled through ifishillinios.org.
All statewide regulations are in effect. The entire West Lake is always no wake. The East Lake is no wake before 10 a.m or after sunset with a speed limit of 35 m.p.h. 2 pole and line only with no more than 2 hooks or lures per pole. For carp, bow and arrow, pitchforks, and gigs allowed.
Contact Information: City of Paris 217-465-7601IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Jim Garavaglia217-345-2420