Kinkaid Lake

Kinkaid Lake
Marina at Kinkaid Lake
Kinkaid Lake Show map of Illinois Kinkaid Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Jackson County, Illinois
Coordinates	37°47′51″N 89°25′53″W / 37.7976°N 89.4315°W / 37.7976; -89.4315
Type	reservoir
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	2,750 acres (1,110 ha)
Average depth	39 ft (12 m)
Max. depth	80 ft (24 m)
Shore length1	92 mi (148 km)
Surface elevation	420 ft (128 m) [1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Kinkaid Lake is a

Kinkaid Lake was built in 1968 with an average depth of 39 feet (12 m), although the area near the

Topography varies, from sandstone bluff formations to rolling hills surrounding the lake. In the rolling hills, oak and hickory trees predominate. Numerous flat contours are planted with prairie grasses, cool-season grasses, and wildlife food plots.

Picnic tables, shelters, charcoal grills and restroom facilities are provided at both

Kinkaid Lake provides opportunities for those interested in fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, walleye and muskie types of fish.^[3] "Natural strain" muskellunges were first stocked at Kinkaid Lake in 1985, and the lake began producing fish up to 40 inches in length by 1990 (after only five years of growth).

In November 1998, construction of a spilling retention barrier was completed. This device was designed to keep the muskies in the lake (when the lake overflows into the spillway), but also offers the added benefit of keeping larger variants of walleye, bass, crappie, and striped bass from escaping.

The lake is the home of the Shawnee Chapter of Muskies Inc.

Statewide regulations for the state of Illinois govern hunting at the Kinkaid Lake site. Within state regulations and seasons, species commonly available for hunting are deer, turkey, squirrel, quail, rabbit, dove, and waterfowl.

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