Map

South Buffalo Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Illinois, United States

31 catches

Top fish species at South Buffalo Lake

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Check which species have trophy potential in South Buffalo Lake

South Buffalo Lake fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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General info

South Buffalo Lake is a lake located in Knox County, Illinois, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Redear sunfish.

Location

41°02′28.9″N 90°02′42.6″W
Directions

When are Largemouth Bass biting on South Buffalo Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at South Buffalo Lake. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at South Buffalo Lake, IL

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Illinois can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Bag limit6

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit6

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
There is no statewide size limit. Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site-Specific Regulations. Only statewide regulations are shown herein, but you can access Site-Specific Regulations online.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Micropterus nigricans
Season open: year-round
Bluegill

Bluegill

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Additional information
There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site-Specific Regulations. 
Edibility
Catch, Clean, Cook Bluegill
Synonyms
Lepomis macrochirus
Season open: year-round
Redear sunfish

Redear sunfish

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Additional information
There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site-Specific Regulations. 
Edibility
Very good
Synonyms
Lepomis microlophus, Shellcracker
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Local laws and licenses

Illinois fishing license

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Cities nearby

Victoria

2.5 miles away

La Fayette

6.0 miles away

Oak Run

7.1 miles away

Altona

8.0 miles away

Williamsfield

8.1 miles away

Galva

8.8 miles away

Toulon

10.1 miles away

Bishop Hill

11.6 miles away

Wataga

12.0 miles away

Wyoming

14.3 miles away

Gilson

14.7 miles away

Kewanee

15.0 miles away

Brimfield

16.4 miles away

Princeville

16.8 miles away

Woodhull

17.2 miles away

Maquon

17.9 miles away

Yates City

18.3 miles away

Galesburg

18.4 miles away

Rio

19.0 miles away

Cambridge

19.3 miles away

Andover

21.7 miles away

Ophiem

22.9 miles away

Abingdon

24.8 miles away

Alexis

26.6 miles away

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FAQ about South Buffalo Lake fishing

📍 Where is South Buffalo Lake located?
South Buffalo Lake is a lake located in Knox County, Illinois, United States. Its coordinates are:
41°02′28.9″N 90°02′42.6″W
.
🎣 Where on South Buffalo Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on South Buffalo Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in South Buffalo Lake?
The most common species in South Buffalo Lake are:
📢 What are the latest South Buffalo Lake fishing reports?
The latest South Buffalo Lake fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at South Buffalo Lake?

Fishing in Illinois requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include resident, non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination licenses, purchasable online or at licensed agents.

In Illinois, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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