Lake Profile -- MATTOON, LAKE

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MATTOON, LAKE

Lake Information

County: Shelby

Acreage: 988

Average Depth: 0.00 feet

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? Unrestricted

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? No

Skiing? Yes

Swimming? Yes

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? Yes

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Maps are not intended for navigation.

There are no zebra mussels in this lake.

Fish Stocking
Year	Species	Size	Count
2023	Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)	Fingerling 1 - 3"	12636
2024	Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper)	Fingerling 1 - 3"	10791
2024	Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye)	Fingerling 1 - 3"	42827

Additional information for stocking on Mattoon, Lake

Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species	Rank	Fish Status
BLUEGILL	Fair	Few fish exceed 7.5 inches, but most have a heavy body weight.
CARP	Good	Abundant with fish exceeding 10 lbs.
CHANNEL CATFISH	Good	Currently abundant in the lake through primarily natural recruitment. The average catch goes from 3/4 - 4.5 lbs., with the occasional fish over 10 pounds caught.
CRAPPIE	Excellent	Both white and black crappie are abundant. Growth rates vary from slow to fast within this population. However, anglers may still catch crappie up to 13 inches and 3/4 lbs.
FLATHEAD CATFISH	Poor	Catch and release is encouraged as abundance is low.
FRESHWATER DRUM	Average	Moderately abundant with fish exceeding 10 lbs.
HYBRID STRIPED BASS (WIPERS)	Good	Hybrid striped bass are stocked annually with population density varying with stocking density. Good numbers of hybrid striped bass have been caught in recent years by anglers. Numbers of hybrids are caught below the spillway in early spring. Catch rates of hybrid striped bass were high during the standardized fall survey in 2012 and good in 2013.
LARGEMOUTH BASS	Fair	Moderate in abundance due to a lack of aquatic vegetation for nursery habitat. Decent numbers of bass from .5-3 lbs. are present with fish over 6 lbs. caught on occasion.
SAUGEYE (Walleye/Sauger Hybrid)	Fair	Saugeye were initially stocked in 2010. Saugeye are moderate in abundance with anglers reporting catches of some legal saugeye. The 2012 and 2013 year classes look strong.

Location: Lake Mattoon is located approximately twelve miles southwest of Mattoon and about 1.5 miles northwest of Neoga, in parts of Shelby, Coles, and Cumberland Counties.

Description: The lake covers 1050 surface acres with a maximum depth of 31 feet and average depth of 11.4 feet. Public boat launching facilities are available and the Lake Mattoon Marina (217-254-6680) collects a boating access fee, which covers Lake Paradise as well. All tournaments must be scheduled through the IFishIllinois tournament permitting page.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The fish population in Lake Mattoon is intensively surveyed every two years, primarily by electrofishing. The fish are measured, weighed, and scales collected before releasing them alive. Hybrid striped bass, and saugeye, populations are being maintained by annual stockings. In addition to the species listed above, yellow bass, longear sunfish, green sunfish, warmouth, and yellow and black bullheads are present, but are seldom harvested by fishermen due to the small size attained by these species.

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. After sunset the entire lake is no wake. Camping, a swimming beach, live bait, fishing tackle, ice, and drinks are available.

Contact Information:
Lake Mattoon Marina
217-254-6680
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Jim Garavaglia
217-345-2420

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.

2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date	ID	Approval	Ramp Location	Bank/Boat Hook/Bow	Max Boats	Species	Youth?	Open to Public?
May-15	28246	Approved	Marina	boat hook	22	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes	No
May-17	28878	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
May-19	29121	Pending	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes	No
May-21	28901	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
May-24	28843	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
May-24	28879	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
May-28	28902	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
May-31	28880	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-04	28903	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-07	28844	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
June-07	28881	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-11	28904	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-14	28882	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-18	28905	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-21	28845	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
June-21	28883	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-25	28906	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
June-28	28884	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-02	28907	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-05	28885	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-09	28908	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-12	28886	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-12	28960	Pending	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
July-16	28909	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-19	28846	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
July-19	28887	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-23	28910	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-26	28888	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
July-30	28911	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-02	28847	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
August-02	28889	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-06	28912	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-09	28890	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-13	28913	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-16	28848	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
August-16	28891	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-20	28914	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-23	28892	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-27	28915	Approved	Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-30	28849	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
August-30	28893	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-06	28894	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-13	28850	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
September-13	28895	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-20	28896	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-27	28851	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes
September-27	28897	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
October-04	28898	Approved	Marina	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
October-11	28852	Approved	Marina	boat hook	14	Blue Catfish Channel Catfish Flathead Catfish	No	Yes

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MATTOON, 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