Lake of Egypt
Lake of Egypt is a reservoir about six miles south of Marion, created in 1962 by Southern Illinois Power Cooperative to supply cooling water for a coal-fired power plant. It is open to boats of all motor sizes and is fished for bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish, striped bass and crappie.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Striped Bass
Follow shad schools. Live bait, umbrella rigs and topwater.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Mack's Lake of Egypt Marina public rampMarina$10 launch fee; 12024 Laguna Dr, Marion; (618) 964-1821Directions ↗
- 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 of Egypt 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
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Just Add Water Bait, Tackle & MoreNearby12092 Lake of Egypt Rd, Marion(618) 964-1944Directions ↗
Local tips
- IDNR lists boat fishing on the lake as unrestricted.
- Public ramp at Mack's Marina charges a $10 launch fee.
- Consult the IDNR Fishing Digest for current statewide limits.
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.