Dunlap Lake

 Dunlap Lake is our 138-acre lake with 360 single-family homes, just east of downtown Edwardsville in Madison County, Illinois. It was created by Orie T. Dunlap in 1939. Property owners of Dunlap Lake enjoy boating, swimming, ice skating, and fishing along the lake’s 15 miles of shoreline.

Since the late 1940s Dunlap Lake has been periodically stocked with fish including Channel Catfish, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, and Muskellunge. Fishing is for residents and guests who go out with them. Please catch and release largemouth bass, 

A 2024 study on the fishery showed the lake is overstocked with several types of fish. Currently residents are encouraged to catch and keep as many small and midsized Crappie and Stripers they will eat. ALL Shad and Carp caught need to be removed. Never throw left over bait fish or any kind of pond fish into the lake.

The lake is managed by the Dunlap Lake Property Owners Association which was founded in 1950 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1952 to maintain and protect the lake and subdivision. The neighborhood was annexed into Edwardsville in 1977 so now the City maintains roads and provides a reliable sewer system. A 20-year master plan completed in 2020 guides current maintenance and improvements around the lake. 

2022 Kids Fishing Derby

The Kids Fishing Derby will be Saturday, September 3. At East Lake Commons #8 (E8), between 749 and 833 East Lake Drive.  Rain date is the next day (watch Facebook or this website for details).   Fishing starts at 8 a.m.  Results turned in at 11 a.m. All residents and...

read more

DLPOA Fishing Guidelines

Fishing limits for fishing at Dunlap Lake are as follows: • Largemouth bass 3 per day, no size limits• Walleye 2 per day, a minimum length of 15 inches • Hybrid striped bass 2 per day, minimum length 18 inches • Channel catfish 6 per day, no size limits • Muskie catch...

read more

New Spillway Video

The newly completed spillway moves about 3 times more water than the previous structure which was build in 1964. Now the lake will overfill less during heavy rain, and return to normal pool much faster. Roy Wehling, co-chair for the dam maintenance committee took this...

read more

Normal Pool

'Normal Pool' of the lake While we are all celebrating the return to a normal pool for our beloved Dunlap Lake, there has been much conversation on social media about what is considered a “normal pool” and how this relates to the newly completed spillway. Here are a...

read more