Ralph Loos

It’s rarely among the small group of Illinois lakes boasting about its big flathead catfish, but Lake Murphysboro may soon enjoy a day when catfishermen around the state say, “Let’s try to find a monster in Murphy.”
Local legend of the “Big Muddy Monster” aside, they may be talking about a growing number of growing flatheads in Lake Murphysboro, the 145-acre Jackson County lake that which sits not far from the Big Muddy River and not far from the much larger Kinkaid Lake.

Reigniting Dutchman Lake’s channel catfish has been a goal of the Illinois DNR, as the agency stocked 1,500 of the fish in 2023. That stocking featured channel cats in the 4- to 7-inch range, providing them a solid start in the 118-acre southern Illinois lake.
Dutchman Lake, located north of Vienna, offers quiet angling. Some might even call it serene. But there are plenty of fish, thanks to some solid habitat.