Wayne County · reservoir · 210 acres
Sam Dale Lake
Stocked 7× since 2021 · Illinois DNR
Sam Dale Lake is a reservoir in Wayne County, Illinois, stocked with Channel Catfish and Walleye — most recently on Jan 1, 2026. 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
Overcast
86°
63°
6 mph
0%
Fri
Drizzle
87°
65°
13 mph
35%
Sat
Rain
78°
67°
14 mph
55%
→ pressure steadyStable weather — expect a normal bite.
Stocking ledger
| — 2026 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 9" | |
| Jan 1 | Walleye | 7,805 | 2" | |
| — 2025 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 5.5" | |
| — 2024 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 2,400 | 9" | |
| — 2023 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 5.5" | |
| — 2022 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 5.5" | |
| — 2021 — | ||||
| Jan 1 | Channel Catfish | 4,000 | 5.5" | |
Angler reports
What's biting
No reports yet — be the first
Best bite times
No reports yet
Field notes
No notes yet
All Illinois waters with channel catfish → · All Illinois waters with walleye →
Nearby waters
- Trout Pond0.5 mi
- Gum Branch1.4 mi
- Bob Branch1.6 mi
- Rattlesnake Creek1.7 mi
- Allen Pond2.8 mi
- Milner Lake3.4 mi
- Johnson Fork4.5 mi
- Brush Creek6.1 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.
Sam Dale Lake fishing — FAQ
What fish are stocked in Sam Dale Lake?+
Sam Dale Lake is stocked with Channel Catfish and Walleye in Wayne County, Illinois, most recently on Jan 1, 2026 by Illinois DNR. The full stocking ledger is on this page.
When does Sam Dale Lake get stocked?+
Going by 7 records since 2021, stocking at Sam Dale Lake peaks in January. Check this page for the season's scheduled and most recent stockings.
Do I need a license to fish Sam Dale 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 Sam Dale Lake?+
Sam Dale Lake is a reservoir in Wayne County, Illinois. Driving directions and an interactive topo map are on this page.
Data: Illinois DNR · updated Jan 1, 2026 · checked daily · we publish what agencies publish, nothing else.