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Horseshoe Lake is located in Alexander County at the Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area just south of Olive Branch, IL.
Horseshoe Lake is 1890 acres in size with a maximum depth of 5-6 feet. There are numerous boat launching sites around the Lake as well as campgrounds. The Lake resembles a southern swamp with bald cypress and tupelo gum trees growing throughout.
There is a 10hp motor limit on Horseshoe Lake. Only trolling motors are allowed in the refuge from October 15 through March 1. All fish: 2-pole and line fishing only.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth Bass: 6 fish daily limit, 14" minimum length limit
Channel Catfish: 6 fish daily limit
Site Regulations:
Largemouth Bass: 6 fish daily limit, 14" minimum length limit
Channel Catfish: 6 fish daily limit
1,890 acres
LAKE SIZE
56 feet
MAX DEPTH
BOATING RESTRICTIONS
10hp
AMENITIES
Boat Landing
Camping
Swimming
Boat Rentals
Picnicking
Skiing
FISH TO CATCH
Bluegill
Channel Catfish
Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Alligator Gar
NOTE: This list may not be all inclusive of all speices present in Horseshoe Lake.
TOPO MAP FOR MEMBERS
FISHING OUTLOOK
BLUEGILL
AVERAGE
Only 10 bluegill were collected during the 2016 survey and none were over 8 inches in length.
CHANNEL CATFISH
FAIR
No channel catfish were collected during the 2016 survey. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit.
CRAPPIE
GOOD
Of the 17 white crappie collected in the 2016 survey, 45% were over 9 inches in length and 45% were over 10 inches in length. No black crappie were collected in the 2016.
LARGEMOUTH BASS
POOR
During the 2016 spring electrofishing sample, largemouth bass were collected at a rate of 3 fish per hour. Of the five bass collected, only 1 (16 inches) was over the 14 inch size limit. Largemouth bass fishing for 2017 can only be rated as poor. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit, 14" minimum length limit.
PLACES TO STAY
HISTORY AND STATUS OF FISHERY
Biennial surveys on the lake are conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The next survey is planned for spring of 2018. The extensive woody vegetation and shallow nature of Horseshoe Lake make it very difficult to sample.
CONTACT / CONTROLLING AUTHORITY
Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area
618-776-5689
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Nick Abell
618-967-0952
618-776-5689
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Nick Abell
618-967-0952
NOTICE: Lake-Link Inc assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions of the information for Horseshoe Lake. Although we strive to provide the most accurate information as we can the information contained in this page is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.
