2026 regulation year
Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County) 2026 — Illinois Fishing Regulations
Illinois statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County) carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Illinois's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
McMaster Lake at Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area, western IL — a renowned IDNR trophy bass + muskie fishery reclaimed from former surface-mine ground; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot, 3 / day; muskellunge protected slot — keep 1 of 36 in to under 42 in OR 1 of 48 in or longer; walleye + sauger + hybrid 3 / day; crappie 25 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer; bluegill + redear 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Source: Illinois special-water list
Official source
Illinois Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Illinois fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Illinois fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Illinois Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Illinois trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Illinois
- Baldwin Lake (Randolph County)
- Braidwood Lake (Will County)
- Carlyle Lake (Clinton / Bond / Fayette Counties)
- Clinton Lake (DeWitt County)
- Coffeen Lake (Montgomery County)
- Crab Orchard Lake
- Dawson Lake (Moraine View State Recreation Area) (McLean County)
- Des Plaines River Basin (Cook County)
- Devil's Kitchen Lake
- Dolan Lake (Hamilton County)
- Double "T" Lake (Fulton County)
- Emiquon Preserve – Thompson Lake (Fulton County)
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County)?
- Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County) carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Illinois' statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "McMaster Lake at Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area, western IL — a renowned IDNR trophy bass + muskie fishery reclaimed from former surface-mine ground; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot, 3 / day; muskellunge protected slot — keep 1 of 36 in to under 42 in OR 1 of 48 in or longer; walleye + sauger + hybrid 3 / day; crappie 25 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer; bluegill + redear 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County)?
- Yes. Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County) is in Illinois, so a valid Illinois fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Snakeden Hollow; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Illinois rules.
- Do Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County)'s special rules replace Illinois' statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Illinois' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Snakeden Hollow by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.