East Fork Lake
East Fork Lake is a city water supply reservoir about 1 mile north of Olney in Richland County. It was built in 1971 and is known for walleye, largemouth bass and crappie.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Stocked each year; most legal fish run 18 to 25 inches
Largemouth Bass
Most keepers are 15 to 20 inches, with a few over 6 pounds
Crappie
White crappie mostly 8 to 11 inches
Channel Catfish
Numbers are low but recovering from stocking
Bluegill
Shad crowding keeps most fish at 5 to 7 inches
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- East Fork Boat RampRampPublic boat ramp with kayak rentals and handicap access. City of Olney boat sticker required.Directions ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass Applies to largemouth and smallmouth | 15 in | 6 / day |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15 in | 6 / day |
| Channel Catfish | See Illinois rules book ↗ | 6 / day |
| Bluegill Bluegill and redear combined | See Illinois rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Crappie White, black or hybrid | See Illinois rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Illinois Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near East Fork Lake ↗Local tips
- Buy the City of Olney boat sticker before you launch.
- Bass must be 15 inches or longer to keep, so bring a ruler.
- Curly-leaf pondweed is spreading, so clean and dry your boat and gear after each trip.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Illinois lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.