Choose another lake

MCMASTER, LAKE


Lake Information

County: Knox

Acreage: 165

Shoreline Length: 7.5 miles

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? Yes, No Wake over 10 Hp

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? No

Skiing? No

Swimming? No

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? No




There are zebra mussels in this lake.


Lake Status Summary  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLACK CRAPPIE

Average

The black crappie population has had an average rating in recent years. The 5 year averages from 2011 to 2015 were an RSD10 of 14 for black crappie. In 2017, the crappie regulation was changed from a 5 fish daily harvest limit, to a 25 fish daily harvest limit with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches. The goal of the new regulation is to allow the harvest of more of the slower growing black crappie, while maintaining and promoting the population structure of crappie over 10 inches in length. In 2022, the black crappie population was sampled by 15 fish in the spring electrofishing survey. The PSD value was a 53, RSD9 of 53, RSD10 of 40 and RSD11 of 20. The average WR value was 96. The RSD 10 and RSD 11 values showed a marked increase in 2020 and have stayed high thru 2022. The new regulation will continue to be evaluated to these indices.

BLUEGILL

Good

The bluegill population was sampled by 127 fish in the spring electrofishing survey. The current bluegill population is rated as good with the larger fish up to 8.3 inches in length. This population is of moderate density and in good body condition with a Wr average of 100.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Very Good

The channel catfish population was sampled by 32 fish in the 2022, spring trap net survey. The current channel catfish population is rated as good with the larger fish up to 28.7 inches in length. This population is of moderate density and in good body condition with a Wr average of 103. Little Grassy hatchery stocked 3,000 fish at 6.8 inches in 2022. An annual stocking of non-vulnerable channel catfish has occurred in the recent past. These stockings have established a moderate density population, and the stocking can be adjusted to an every other year stocking starting in 2021.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Good

In 2022, spring trapnetting and spring D.C. electrofishing were used to survey the fish population. The largemouth bass population was evaluated by 154 bass from electrofishing. The largemouth bass population appears to be defined by a high percentage of fish from 8 to 16 inches in length with good average Relative weights. In 2017, the bass regulation for McMaster Lake was changed from a 3 fish daily harvest limit with only 1 fish greater than or equal to 15 inches, to a protected slot length limit from 14 to 18 inches with 3 fish daily harvest limit. The goal of the new bass regulation is to increase the density of the bass population from 14 to 18 inches. The 5 year averages from 2011 to 2015 were RSD15 of 23, RSD16 of 15, and RSD18 of 5. And a 5 year average CPUE 1.6 fish per minute over 8 inches with pulse D.C. eletrofishing. The 2022 electrofishing survey showed a decline in the RSD15 through RSD 18 values. The 2022 values were: PSD of 60, RSD15 of 8, RSD16 of 4 and the RSD18 of 2. The average body condition was at a Wr of 93. Future surveys will need to evaluate further why the bass population has not started to restructure into the 14 to 18 inch size range. The goal of the protected slot length limit is to create a high density bass population that is composed of fish large enough to be efficient predators upon the panfish and gizzard shad population. The benefit to bass anglers will be more fish surviving past 15 inches to catch, and for the anglers wanting to harvest bass will be the opportunity to still harvest fish under 14 inches.

MUSKELLUNGE

Good

Only a total of 4 muskie were sampled by the spring trapnet survey in 2022. These fish ranged from 28.5 to 39.4 inches long. The body condition of these fish was at an average Wr of 90. The sample was composed of 3 males and 1 female. In 2019, 1 of the females had a PIT tag from a historical tagging event. She was originally tagged on 4/3/2006 at a length of 37 inches and 13.5 pounds. On 4/16/2019 she was recaptured at a length of 43.7 inches long and 21.9 pounds. She grew approximately .5 inches and .65 pounds per year over those 13 years. In 2017, the muskie harvest regulation was changed from a 1 fish daily harvest limit over 48 inches, to a harvestable slot from 36 to 42 inches, and 48 inch minimum length limit with 1 fish daily harvest limit. This regulation is an attempt to allow anglers to reduce the density of very slow growing male muskie in McMaster Lake. The following data helps explain the current male and female muskie growth rate in McMaster Lake. Muskie have been PIT tagged since 2002 in Lake McMaster. The 2015 fish recaptures showed that males grew on average .52 inches per year and .5 lbs per year which was based on 3 fish at least 13 years old each. Females grew on average .84 inches per year and .78 lbs per year which was based on 4 fish at least 13 years old each. The 2016 fish recaptures showed that males grew on average .53 inches per year and .42 lbs per year which was based on 16 fish at least 13 years old each. Females grew on average .3 inches per year and .58 lbs per year which was based on 2 fish at least 13 years old each. In 2016 the average Wr for male muskie(29) over 36” was 77 and the average Wr for female muskie(7) over 36” was 85. From 16 PIT tagged male muskie, the length range was 37.5 to 42.3 inches long for fish 13 to 17 years old. 58% (22/38 fish) of the males were from 36 to 40 inches in length. While only 11% (1/9 fish) of the females were from 36 to 40 inches in length. In 2017, only 3 male recaptures were collected. 137 muskie at 11.9 inches in length were stocked in 2015. No muskie were stocked in 2016, 2017 or 2018. Jake Wolf hatchery stocked 136 muskie at 13.5 inches on 9/18/2019. A triennial stocking is now scheduled to maintain a moderate density of healthy muskie.

REDEAR SUNFISH

Good

The redear sunfish population was sampled by 61 fish in the spring electrofishing survey. The current redear population is rated as very good with the larger fish up to 11.1 inches in length. This population is of low density and in excellent body condition with a Wr average of 116. The redear sunfish population started to show very good growth and increases in the size structure at about the same time that zebra mussels were documented in 2021 in McMaster Lake. In 2017, the bluegill and redear sunfish regulation was changed from a 10 fish daily harvest limit to a 25 fish daily harvest limit. This change will allow anglers the ability to harvest more bluegill and redear sunfish per daily visit to Snakeden Hollow SFWA waters.

WALLEYE

Good

The walleye population was sampled by 44 fish in spring trap nets in 2022. The current walleye population is rated as good with the larger fish up to 27.3 inches in length. The CPUE for trapnets was at 2.2 fish per net night in 2022. This population is of low density and in good body condition with a Wr average of 86. No walleye were stocked in 2015 or in 2016, but 8,032 were stocked in 2017, 11,160 were stocked in 2018, 8,351 were stocked in 2019, 8,090 were stocked in 2020, 13,628 in 2021, and 9,180 at 1.5 inches long in 2022.

Location: Lake McMaster is situated within the 2,500 acre Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area. It is located 2 miles southeast of Victoria in Knox County. Access to the lake is 1.7 miles south of State highway 167 on Knox County Highway 28.

Description: Lake McMaster is the largest impoundment at Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildllife Area. It is 165 acres in size and has a maximum depth of 65 feet. The shoreline length is 7.5 miles and a centerline length of 1.4 miles. The narrow east arm of the lake has a centerline of .9 mile. Lake McMaster is the only impoundement at Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area with an improved boat ramp.

Lake McMaster was built in 1978 by Midland Coal Company as their water supply reservoir. The lake has a diverse habitat that is characterized by very deep water, shallow bars, numerous bays and points, abrupt drop-offs, islands, flooded timber and extensive shallow flats of submerged and immergent aquatic plants.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: Lake McMaster is annually sampled with a spring trap net and a spring electrofishing survey. Addition fish species that can be found in low density populations in Lake McMaster are smallmouth bass and bluegill x redear hybrids.

Additional Lake Information: All Fish - 2 pole and line fishing only.
Large or Smallmouth Bass:
- Protected Slot Length Limit from 14 to 18 inches with 3 fish daily harvest limit.
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish:
- 25 fish Daily Harvest Limit.
White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie:
- 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches.
Pure Muskellunge:
- Harvestable slot from 36 to 42 inches, and 48 inch minimum length limit with 1 fish daily harvest limit.
Channel Catfish:
- 6 fish daily harvest limit.
Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye:
- 3 fish daily harvest limit.
Recreational Use Restrictions:
- Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (all use other than waterfowl hunting prohibited from 14 days prior to duck season through the end of the central zone Canada goose season). All live bait greater than 8 inches must be rigged with a quick set rig.

Contact Information:
Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area:

309-879-2607
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Rob Hilsabeck
309-370-5296

There were 4 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2020.

Species Total Fish Caught
Largemouth Bass 145
Muskellunge 3

Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2020 tournaments:

1     5.88 lbs
2     5.00 lbs
3     4.50 lbs
4     4.38 lbs
5     4.31 lbs

Top 5 Bag Weights of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2020 tournaments:

1 138.19 lbs
2 22.38 lbs
3 5.88 lbs


Multiple day tournaments are listed with *end date and

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2020-2021 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date ID Approval Ramp Location Bank/Boat
Hook/Bow
Max Boats Species Youth? Open to Public?
May-0425210ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
No
May-0525276ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
10Largemouth Bass
No
May-1925081ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-0326365ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Yes
June-0825762ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
12Largemouth Bass
No
June-2225268ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
No
September-2825238ApprovedSnakeden Hollow SFWA boat
hook
17Muskellunge
Yes