Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has declared a fish salvage for Little Grassy Lake as part of planned rehabilitation work on the lake's dam and spillway. The dam and spillway are overdue for repairs, having exceeded their original design lifespan, necessitating a complete drawdown of the lake which risks significant fish loss.

The salvage permits individuals with a valid sport fishing license or a combination hunting and fishing license to engage in capturing aquatic life from now until April 1, 2026. Legal methods include using two pole and line fishing techniques, while carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin, and suckers may also be caught using pitchforks, gigs, bows and arrows, or bow and arrow devices. There are no restrictions on the daily or possession limits for any species during this period, but fish cannot be cleaned nor may any fish waste be disposed of on site.

Little Grassy Lake, a 1,000-acre body of water, is under the operation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is situated within the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge complex in Williamson County, between Marion and Carbondale. IDNR oversees the fishery under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The rehabilitation work on the dam is being conducted in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District and follows the formal Little Grassy Lake Dam Modification Study that commenced on September 10, 2024.