Mason County · lake
Picket Lake
Stocked 5× since 2021 · Illinois DNR
Picket Lake is a lake in Mason County, Illinois, stocked with Channel Catfish — most recently on Jan 1, 2025. FishableWaters aggregates every stocking record for this water from Illinois DNR; the latest schedule and today's bite windows are above.
Best days this week
Days near a new or full moon tend to fish best.
Today's bite windows
Conditions, next 3 days
Today
Drizzle
85°
67°
15 mph
67%
Sat
Rain
74°
66°
18 mph
86%
Sun
Overcast
77°
65°
16 mph
27%
↘ pressure fallingFalling pressure ahead of a front often turns the bite on.
Stocking ledger
| — 2025 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 540 | 5.5" | |
| — 2024 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 585 | 5.5" | |
| — 2023 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 549 | 9" | |
| — 2022 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 552 | 5.5" | |
| — 2021 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 671 | 9" | |
Angler reports
What's biting
No reports yet — be the first
Best bite times
No reports yet
Field notes
No notes yet
Nearby waters
- Little Picket Lake0.2 mi
- Calomel Lake0.3 mi
- Cow Lake0.4 mi
- Back Lake0.5 mi
- Indian Run0.9 mi
- Finch Lake0.8 mi
- Spring Lake0.9 mi
- Wilcox Lake1.0 mi
Seasons, limits, and rules are the state's call — check the official IL regulations and buy your license before you go. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Picket Lake fishing — FAQ
What fish are stocked in Picket Lake?+
Picket Lake is stocked with Channel Catfish in Mason County, Illinois, most recently on Jan 1, 2025 by Illinois DNR. The full stocking ledger is on this page.
When does Picket Lake get stocked?+
Going by 5 records since 2021, stocking at Picket Lake peaks in January. Check this page for the season's scheduled and most recent stockings.
Do I need a license to fish Picket Lake?+
Yes — Illinois requires a fishing license. Buy one from the state and check current seasons and limits before you go; both are linked on this page.
Where is Picket Lake?+
Picket Lake is a lake in Mason County, Illinois. Driving directions and an interactive topo map are on this page.
Data: Illinois DNR · updated Jan 1, 2025 · checked daily · we publish what agencies publish, nothing else.