Reservoir

Lake Sara

Effingham County, Illinois

Lake Sara is about four miles west of Effingham in Effingham County. It is a water-supply lake owned by the Effingham Water Authority, with a public beach and marinas.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Surface area800 acres

Max depth47 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Crappie●●●●○

Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Rated as improving

White Bass●●●○○

Schools chasing shad in open water, and spring river runs.

Channel Catfish●●●○○

Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.

Bluegill●●○○○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Boat launches

2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Lake Sara public boat rampRamp
8724 E Marine Rd, Effingham.Directions ↗
More public accessPublic
See the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Sara are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Illinois Department of Natural Resources ↗

Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.

Search more bait shops near Lake Sara ↗

Local tips

Fish brush and habitat structures for crappie.
The lake is deep, up to about 47 feet, so check depth near the dam.
Ask at the marinas about current rules and fees.

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.