Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area
Mautino is a former strip mine in Bureau County, south of Sheffield and west of Buda. It has 16 small ponds and lakes, and Boss Lake and Osprey Lake are the largest.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Main target in the deep strip-mine pits
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Redear Sunfish
Shellcracker. Beds in spring and deep shell bars in summer. Red worms on the bottom.
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.
- Boss Lake rampRampBoat ramp with an outdoor toilet.Directions ↗
- Osprey Lake rampRampBoat ramp and fishing pier, with an outdoor toilet.Directions ↗
- 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 Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area 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 Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area ↗Local tips
- Many banks are steep, so watch your footing when fishing from shore.
- Bring your own drinking water. The site has none.
- Hours are 5 AM to 10 PM from April 1 to October 31.
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.