Illinois · United States

Rend Lake IL fishing forecast

69 Good of 100

Rend Lake IL is a freshwater fishing spot in Illinois, United States. Anglers here target Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish. The most productive months are typically March, April, May, June, September, October.

Quick answer

Best monthsMarch, April, May, June

Top speciesCrappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass

Score now69/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #192 of 644 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Wind+12.0Barometric pressure+4.4

Pressure trend

Pressure stable — fish feeding on their usual rhythm

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	22.8 °C
Wind	14 km/h from NNW, gusting 25 km/h
Pressure	1015 hPa
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	7.55 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
UV index	3
Wind sea	0.0 m
Ground swell	0.0 m at 0 s

River gauge: BIG MUDDY RIVER BELOW REND LAKE NR BENTON, IL (1 km): 66 cfs, steady

The water is running true to season — within a few tenths of the August average of 22.8 °C for this location. The water is mixed to about 20.0 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Rend Lake IL

Rend Lake IL currently scores 69 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 22.8 °C. 6 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +15.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Wind +12.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Thermocline +3.0: a defined layer stacks fish at one depth
Stream flow +3.0: river discharge vs seasonal norm
Pre-storm bite +2.4: the classic feed before heavy weather

What’s biting now

The model expects today: bluegill, channel-catfish, shortnose-gar, black-bullhead, bowfin, silver-carp, bighead-carp, green-sunfish

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 82% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Rend Lake IL:

Score history at this spot

26 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-08-13, 76/100

16 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

5 points below the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Lake · Freshwater

Lakes have no tide, so target structure, drop-offs, and seasonal thermoclines where fish concentrate by depth and temperature.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · beach

What you can catch

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.
Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus
Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides
Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Best months by species at Rend Lake IL

CrappiePomoxis spp.
BluegillLepomis macrochirus
Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides
Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.