Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamMay 8, 2026 · Updated May 17, 2026

🏆🏆🏆🏆 Central IL Power Lake — 1,600-acre cooling lake on the Illinois River — striped bass and hybrid striper fishery

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area centers on a 1,600-acre cooling lake in Tazewell County near Pekin. The warm-water discharge from the Powerton power station creates one of Illinois’s most unique fisheries — stocked with striped bass and hybrid striped bass (a cross between striped and white bass). Powerton consistently produces stripers exceeding 10 pounds. The lake also supports excellent largemouth bass, walleye, and channel catfish populations.

Visitor Information

About Powerton Lake

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Tazewell County surrounds a 1,400-acre power plant cooling lake near Pekin. The warm-water discharge creates excellent fishing conditions — the lake produces trophy-class channel catfish, largemouth bass, and hybrid striped bass. The surrounding grasslands provide pheasant habitat.

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Tazewell County provides fishing on a power plant cooling lake near Pekin. The heated water creates a productive warm-water fishery with largemouth bass, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass growing to impressive sizes.

Things to Do

Fishing for trophy catfish and bass, hunting (pheasant, dove, deer), and birdwatching. The warm waters extend the fishing season well beyond typical Illinois lakes.

Fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass, boating, and wildlife observation. The warm-water discharge creates excellent year-round fishing conditions.

Insider Tips

Warm water fishery: Powerton Lake receives heated discharge from a power plant — producing exceptional warm-water fishing year-round. Pro tip: The lake holds state-record-caliber largemouth bass and channel catfish — the warm water accelerates growth rates beyond natural levels. Winter advantage: When other lakes freeze, Powerton remains open — providing unique winter fishing opportunities.

Best Time to Visit

Year-round: Warm water means year-round fishing. Winter: Best for trophy fish — no competition from other anglers. Spring: Bass spawn earlier here than natural lakes. Fall: Excellent fishing before winter concentration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do fish really grow bigger in warm water?

Yes — warmer water extends the growing season and increases metabolism. Fish in power plant lakes can grow 20-30% faster than fish in natural lakes. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass benefit most. The tradeoff is shorter lifespans — but the fish reach trophy size years earlier.

Wildlife & Nature

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area — a 1,426-acre cooling lake for the adjacent power plant near Pekin — provides year-round fishing in thermally warmed waters. The warm discharge keeps portions of the lake ice-free throughout winter, creating a magnet for wintering waterfowl and bald eagles. The lake supports trophy largemouth bass, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass that grow faster in the warm water. Double-crested cormorants — colonial fishing birds that dive and pursue fish underwater — roost on the lake’s dead trees. Great blue herons and great egrets wade the shallows year-round. The thermal plume creates a unique microhabitat — fish species normally found further south thrive in the artificially warmed waters.

Nearby Attractions

Pekin — the Tazewell County seat — has the Mineral Springs Park. Peoria — 10 minutes north — offers the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Caterpillar Visitors Center, and Wildlife Prairie Park. Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area provides additional fishing. Jubilee College State Park has 3,200 acres of forest recreation. Fort Crève Cœur State Historic Site preserves the site of La Salle’s 1680 fort. Peoria Heights has Tower Park with Illinois River valley views.

Nearby state parks: If you have extra time, Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife Area is a short drive away, and Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is a short drive away.

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to the state parks of the United States. Our editorial team compiles and reviews each park profile from official state park agency sources and other primary references, and follows a published editorial and review methodology (see /editorial-review-methodology/). We update profiles and correct errors on an ongoing basis.

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