Visitor Services: Fishing

Sport fishing is permitted in accordance with all applicable State regulations and subject to the following special conditions.  Click on a link below to view its specific regulations. All Refuge Waters         Crab Orchard Lake         Little Grassy & Devils Kitchen Lakes         Designated Ponds within Restricted Use Area     Ann Manns Lake         Special Conditions for Organized Fishing Events Crab Orchard Fishing Map and Brochure For the 2007 Fishing Digest please view the IDNR Fishing Brochure.

      

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All Refuge Waters:

• All Refuge waters, except as noted  below, have a daily creel limit of 6 with a minimum 15" length limit for Largemouth Bass.
    

• Organizers of all fishing events must possess a Special Use Permit. To obtain permit call (618) 998-5933. 
    

• Anglers may not fish within 250 yards of an occupied waterfowl hunting blind. 
    

• Anglers may not submerge any pole or similar object to locate or take fish.

• Anglers may not use more than 2 poles and each pole may not have more than two hooks or lures attached while fishing. (Except Crab Orchard Lake angler may use trotlines or jugs.)

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Crab Orchard Lake

West of Wolf Creek Road:

• Fishing from boats is permitted day and night year-round.  
      

• Trotlines and jugs must be removed from legal sunrise until legal sunset from the Friday immediately prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day.

East of Wolf Creek Road:

• Fishing from boats is permitted only from March 15 through September 30.
       

• Fishing from the bank is permitted year-round at the Wolf Creek and Route 148 causeways.

• Largemouth Bass between 12 and 15 inches must be released at Little Grassy Lake.
        

• Devils Kitchen Lake has no size limit on Largemouth Bass.
        

• Trot lines/jugs are prohibited.
        

• Use of boat motors of more that 10h.p. is prohibited.
        

• A trout stamp is required to possess trout.

       
Designated Ponds within the Restricted Use Area:

• Fishing is permitted from legal sunrise to legal sunset March 15 through September 30.
    

• No boats or floatation devices are allowed.
    

      
Ann Manns Lake:

• The daily creel limit for Channel Catfish is 6.

       
Special Conditions for Organized Fishing Events:

• All fish caught will be returned to the lake.
    

• Aerated live wells are required for all boats.
    

• Recreational User Fee decals are required.
    

• No more than 20 boats per fish-off.

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