Homer Lake

Boat Ramps: 1
Access Points: 1
Species: 12

Homer Lake is an 81-acre man-made impoundment located within the Salt Fork River Forest Preserve in Champaign County, Illinois, just 2 miles northwest of the town of Homer and 15 miles southeast of Champaign. Built in 1969 with the completion of a 900-foot earth dam and concrete spillway, this relatively shallow lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet and an average depth of 8 feet. The lake serves as the centerpiece of a 798-acre forest preserve that was originally developed as a state park before being transferred to the Champaign County Forest Preserve District in 1992. Homer Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities in a scenic setting, with the entire shoreline accessible to the public and multiple amenities including boat ramps, fishing piers, and picnic areas.

Illinois licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Homer Lake and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Walleye

Sander vitreus

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Grass Pickerel

Esox americanus

Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

Sauger

Sander canadensis

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Yellow Bass

Morone mississippiensis

Yellow Bullhead

Ameiurus natalis

Fish stocking schedule

Latest 5 stockings

Channel Catfish1,644 fish · 9.0 in2026
Channel Catfish1,123 fish · 9.0 in2025
Channel Catfish963 fish · Adults2024
Channel Catfish1,605 fish · 5.5 in2023
Redear Sunfish20,163 fish · 2.0 in2022

Source

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Sizes are the length the agency reports. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

Open stocking page

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Homer Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Homer Lake Boat Ramp

Boat Ramp

Know where you can legally fish on Homer Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Illinois licenses and regulations

Illinois Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Illinois Fishing License

All individuals who are 16 and over are required to have a fishing license. All youth who are below 16 may fish without a license.

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Illinois Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Illinois Steam Access Laws

If the waterway is navigable in fact and the streambed is publicly owned, it is most likely fully accessible. If the streambed is privately owned, it is only accessible for navigation, not for hunting, fishing or portage.

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Take Homer Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Homer Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Homer Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.