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DECATUR, LAKE
Lake Information
County: Macon
Acreage: 2905
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? Unrestricted
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? Yes
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? No
Click on area names for a more detailed map.
Decatur Dam,
Reas Bridge,
William Street Bridge
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2022 |
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
31500 |
2022 |
Walleye |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
88658 |
2023 |
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
26554 |
2023 |
Walleye |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
18503 |
Additional information for stocking on Decatur, 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 collected exceed 7.5 inches. | |
Good | Common carp are abundant with fish exceeding 11 lbs. | |
Very Good | Channel catfish are abundant in the lake through natural recruitment. The average catch goes from 1 - 4 lbs., with the occasional fish over 10 pounds caught. | |
Excellent | Both white and black crappie are abundant. Growth rates are good. Anglers may still catch crappie up to 14+ inches and 1.3 lbs with a good number of fish over the 10-inch mminimum harvest. | |
Good | Flathead catfish are high in abundance with trophy-sized fish up to 60 pounds caught recently. | |
Excellent | Freshwater Drum, commonly called drum “perch”, are abundant with fish exceeding 10 lbs. | |
Fair | are stocked annually with population density varying with stocking density and emigration over the spillway. Numbers of hybrids are caught below the spillway in early spring, however they can be found in the lake by those who target them. | |
Fair | are moderate in abundance due to a lack of aquatic vegetation for nursery habitat. Bass from ½ - 4 lbs. have been collected in surveys with fish over 5 lbs. caught by anglers on occasion. Efforts to establish aquatic vegetation will hopefully improve the largemouth bass fishery. | |
Excellent | are abundant with a very healthy population of young-of-year through 6+lb fish observed during our annual survey. Growth rates are great, with many of the fish at or above 14”. | |
Excellent | are usually very abundant in Lake Decatur. They have excellent growth rates and fish exceeding 2 lbs are routinely collected in IDNR surveys. A fish kill affecting only white bass occurred during the summer of 2020, however the population will likely recover quickly. | |
Location: Lake Decatur is located on the east side of the City of Decatur, in Macon County.
Description: The lake covers 3,093 surface acres with a maximum depth of 22 feet and average depth of six feet. Public boat launching facilities are available with the City of Decatur (217-424-2837) collecting boating access fees. All tournaments must be registered.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The fish population in Lake Decatur is intensively surveyed every two years. The fish are measured, weighed, and scales collected before releasing them alive. Hybrid striped bass and walleye populations are surveyed annually and are maintained by annual stockings through IDNR hatcheries.
Buffalo, Redhorse suckers, and Carpsuckers are common, but few are caught by fishermen.
Yellow bass, Longear sunfish, Green sunfish, Orangespotted sunfish, and Yellow bullheads are collected, but are seldom harvested by fishermen due to the small size attained by these species.
Smallmouth bass, Rock bass, and Redear sunfish are very rarely collected and are likely very rare in the anglers catch.
Additional Lake Information: Pole and line fishing only, with no more than two poles allowed per person, with only two hooks or lures per pole. All statewide regulations are in effect. One-half hour after sunset the entire lake is no wake.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth or smallmouth bass: 14" minimum length limit; 6 fish daily limit
Walleye, sauger or saugeye: 14" minimum length limit; 6 fish daily limit
White or hybrid striped bass: Only 3 fish 17" or larger; no limit less than 17"
White, black or hybrid crappie: 10" minimum length limit; 10 fish daily limit
Contact Information: Lake Decatur Lake Patrol OfficeJoe Nihiser 217-424-2837IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Jim Garavaglia217-345-2420
There were 22 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2023.
| Species | Total Fish Caught |
| Crappie | 669 |
| Largemouth Bass | 595 |
Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2023 tournaments:
| 1 6.27 lbs | 2 5.85 lbs | 3 5.62 lbs | 4 5.40 lbs | 5 5.36 lbs |
Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2023 tournaments:
| 1 | 251.79 lbs |
| 2 | 115.69 lbs |
| 3 | 111.25 lbs |
| 4 | 93.57 lbs |
| 5 | 84.83 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? |
| April-21 | 25823 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| April-24 | 26337 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| April-28 | 25652 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 25 | Crappie | No | Yes |
| May-04 | 25716 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 20 | Crappie | No | Yes |
| May-05 | 25824 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| May-08 | 26338 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| May-11 | 25013 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 10 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| May-19 | 26177 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 42 | Crappie | No | Yes |
| May-22 | 26339 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| May-25 | 26581 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-02 | 25655 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 15 | Crappie | No | No |
| June-05 | 26340 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-19 | 26341 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-30 | 26419 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-10 | 26342 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-24 | 26343 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-07 | 26344 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-10 | 25522 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-28 | 26345 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-11 | 26346 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-15 | 25657 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 15 | Crappie | No | No |
| September-21 | 25717 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 20 | Crappie | No | Yes |
| September-22 | 26335 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-29 | 25927 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| October-06 | 25827 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| October-12*October-13 | 25315 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 25 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | Yes | Yes |
| October-20 | 26336 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| November-10 | 25660 | Approved | Nelson Park | boathook | 15 | Crappie | No | Yes |
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