Rend Lake In Illinois

Boating, camping and fishing.

Awesome boating, water sports and fishing opportunities await you at Rend Lake, a 19,000-acre impoundment in southern Illinois. The lake has over a dozen boat launch ramps scattered all around the lake. Rend Lake Marina has boat rentals and a store for boating gear, fishing tackle and snacks. If you prefer to fish from the bank, there are multiple public use areas and other access points for shoreline fishing. At some of these areas there is access for portage of a canoe or kayak as well. A great place to fish for bluegill and catfish, it is also home to bass, crappie and white bass. Lake Rend is 13 miles long with over 160 miles of shoreline. The lake is scattered with islands and much of the shallows in the river arms have plenty of submerged brush to hold both predator fish and their prey the baitfish. In warmer weather concentrate on shallow water - anywhere there is cover like brush, rocky points and offshore humps and islands. Points can be productive most any time, simply figure out the correct depth for the day. Crappie and white bass tend to school and tend to migrate around the lake following the baitfish. Bass over 7 pounds are not uncommon here, and 5 and 6 pounders are caught often.

Rend Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES