Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Crab Orchard Lake

West of Wolf Creek Road:

Fishing from boats is permitted day and night year-round.

Trotlines and jugs must be removed from legal sunrise until legal sunset from the Friday immediately prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day.

East of Wolf Creek Road:

Fishing from boats is permitted only from March 15 through September 30.

Fishing from the bank is permitted year-round at the Wolf Creek and Route 148 causeways.

Entire Lake:

The daily creel limit for Large or Smallmouth Bass is 3 with a minimum 16" length limit.

The daily creel limit for Striped Bass, White Bass, and their hybrids, is 10, of which, not more than 3 can be 17" or longer.

Trotlines and jugs must be checked daily, and must be removed on the last day they are used.

Trotlines must have a buoyed device attached to them that is visible on the water's surface.

Trotlines and jugs must be tagged with the anglers name and address.

The use of stakes to anchor trot-lines is prohibited.

Using jugs for flotation devises that have previously contained any petroleum based or toxic substances is prohibited.

The use of underwater breathing apparatus to take fish is prohibited.

Directions

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is located 8 miles east of Carbondale as well as 6 miles west of Marion on Highway 13.