Rend Lake Fishing Report

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Phone (618) 724-2493

Fax (618) 724-4089

e-mail : rendinfo@usace.army.mil

Web site http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/rend

“Like” us on Facebook at Rend Lake Project Office/Visitor Center

 

 

MAIN LAKE AND TRIBUTARIES

 

SPECIES RATING    BAIT OF CHOICE              SUGGESTED LOCATIONS REGULATIONS
 

LARGEMOUTH BASS

 

Good

Minnows spinner baits, worms, and black and blue jigs. Reports of fish being caught around Waltonville and Bonnie near the wildlife refuge, and below the dam. Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around bridges and along the rocks. 14” minimum length limit, 6 daily creel limit.

1 fish daily creel limit in PONDS 14” minimum length.

 

CRAPPIE

 

 

Good

Meal worms. Small & medium minnows on Slip-Corks (1-3 ft. deep). Quarter-ounce pink and white tub jigs.

 

Shallow Water! (2-5 ft.) Fish attractors!  From shore, fish near structures, hot spots are Jackie Branch, Sandusky (Lay-downs), Sailboat Harbor, North and South Marcum (in the Buck Brush), and Ina Boat Ramp. Set your hook about half of water depth. Bigger fish are staying tight to cover. 25 fish daily creel limit with no more than 10 fish 10 inches or longer
 

BLUEGILL

 

 

Good

Small jigs, worms, meal worms, wax worms, crickets. From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Fish shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. Set bait at half of water depth. Fish in the back of necks and on flat shallow banks and on the rocks. 10 fish daily creel limit in PONDS. 
 

CHANNEL

CATFISH

 

 

Excellent

Large minnows, leeches, Hoss’s Hawg bait, night crawlers, and Sonny’s stink bait. Try leeches in moving water.  Drift fish the flats. Set line 3-4’ from the shore over rocks. Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, and N Sandusky day-use area. All creeks and middle-back of coves. 6 fish daily creel limit in PONDS.

Jugs must be attended at all times while fishing.

 

WHITE BASS

 

Fair

In-line spinners, jig and curly tail grubs. Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish around along the rocks and drop-offs Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. 20 fish creel limit.

No more than 3 fish 17” or longer daily

 

Information as of:  05/16/2018

LAKE LEVEL: 408.6      AVERAGE POOL FOR THIS DATE: 408.54     WATER TEMP:  73°F

Use of a minnow seine, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting within 1000 yards downstream of the Rend Lake dam and spillway is prohibited.

Maps of the Fish Attractor tree locations along with GPS locations are available at the Rend Lake Corps of Engineers Project Office or online at www.enjoyrend.com.  Contact Mark Cazier for more information at (618) 724-2493.

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