Lake Chautauqua
Lake Chautauqua is a large backwater of the Illinois River in Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge near Havana. Anglers go there for bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Eagle Bluff Access PointRampBoat ramps for the North and South pools while the refuge is open (Feb 1 to Oct 15)Directions ↗
- Liverpool and Havana rampsRampUsed to reach the river during the Oct 16 to Jan 31 waterfowl closureDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Chautauqua are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: 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 Lake Chautauqua ↗Local tips
- Refuge waters are closed to boats from Oct 16 through Jan 31, so plan fall trips early.
- Boats must run at no wake speed, so expect slow travel between spots.
- Pack out all line and hooks. The refuge asks anglers to protect wildlife.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Illinois lakes
Lake Shelbyville Fox Chain O'Lakes Crab Orchard Lake Clinton Lake Lake Springfield Lake Decatur Kinkaid Lake Horseshoe Lake (Madison County) All Illinois lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.