Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
🏆🏆🏆 Central Illinois Fishing — 1,175-acre cooling lake offering year-round warm-water fishing — heated discharge keeps fish active in winter
Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area centers on a 1,175-acre power plant cooling lake in Montgomery County. The warm-water discharge from the power plant creates unique fishing conditions — largemouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie remain active even in winter when natural lakes freeze. Cooling lakes are among the most productive fisheries in Illinois, offering catch rates far above natural waters.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Montgomery County, IL |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Lake | 1,175 acres! |
| Fishing | Warm-water — fish bite year-round! |
About Coffeen Lake
Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Montgomery County surrounds a 1,100-acre power plant cooling lake — one of the best warm-water fishing destinations in central Illinois. The lake’s warm discharge creates extended fishing seasons and supports trophy largemouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie populations.
Things to Do
Fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill (the warm water extends the fishing season), boating, waterfowl hunting (seasonal), and birdwatching. The lake’s warm waters attract unusual waterfowl in winter.
About Coffeen Lake
Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Montgomery County provides fishing and hunting on a 1,100-acre power plant cooling lake. The warm water discharge from the power plant creates unusual conditions — species like largemouth bass and channel catfish grow to large sizes in the heated water. These industrial-origin lakes are among Illinois’s most productive fisheries.
Things to Do
Fishing for largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie (the warm water produces fast-growing fish), boating, hunting (seasonal), and wildlife observation. A unique power-plant-lake fishery.
Park Location
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