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Crab Orchard Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Illinois, United States

4.3·919 catches

Top fish species at Crab Orchard Lake

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Check which species have trophy potential in Crab Orchard Lake

Crab Orchard Lake fishing reports

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White bass

length · weight

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Black crappie

length · weight

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White bass

length · weight

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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White crappie

length · weight

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General info

Crab Orchard Lake is a lake located in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. It is most popular for fishing Largemouth bass, White bass, and White crappie.

Location

37°43′18.8″N 89°05′24.8″W
Directions

Official website

www.fws.gov

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Crab Orchard Lake?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Crab Orchard 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 Crab Orchard 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
White bass

White bass

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Bag limit3

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 limit3

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

Additional information
No minimum size limit. There are no daily harvest limits for Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass, or their hybrids, which are less than 17-inches total length, except in those waters listed under Site-Specific Regulations. For these fish 17-inches total length or longer, the daily limit is 3 fish, either singly or in the aggregate.Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri aggregate daily bag limit = 30 Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass, or their hybrids, either singly or in the aggregate (regardless of size).Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa aggregate daily bag limit = 25 Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass, or their hybrids, either singly or in the aggregate (regardless of size). Please review Site-Specific Regulations online.
Edibility
Very good
Synonyms
Morone chrysops
Season open: year-round
White crappie

White crappie

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
Pomoxis annularis
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Local laws and licenses

Illinois fishing license

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Reviews of Crab Orchard Lake

4.3
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12 ratings

5
4
3
2
1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Herrin

6.2 miles away

Carbondale

7.3 miles away

Hurst

8.3 miles away

Marion

8.9 miles away

De Soto

9.9 miles away

Makanda

10.6 miles away

Royalton

10.8 miles away

Zeigler

12.9 miles away

Goreville

13.3 miles away

Harrison

14.4 miles away

West Frankfort

15.1 miles away

Elkville

15.3 miles away

Creal Springs

15.5 miles away

Crab Orchard

15.5 miles away

Dowell

17.1 miles away

Buckner

18.3 miles away

Vergennes

18.4 miles away

West City

20.5 miles away

Du Quoin

20.8 miles away

Hanaford

21.4 miles away

Stonefort

22.3 miles away

Thompsonville

22.3 miles away

St. Johns

23.0 miles away

Sesser

25.6 miles away

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FAQ about Crab Orchard Lake fishing

📍 Where is Crab Orchard Lake located?
Crab Orchard Lake is a lake located in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. Its coordinates are:
37°43′18.8″N 89°05′24.8″W
.
🎣 Where on Crab Orchard Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Crab Orchard 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 Crab Orchard Lake?
The most common species in Crab Orchard Lake are:
📢 What are the latest Crab Orchard Lake fishing reports?
The latest Crab Orchard Lake fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Crab Orchard 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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