Alton Twin Lakes South Lake in Madison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Madison County in Illinois is where Alton Twin Lakes South Lake sits. Elevation runs to 515 feet. The water measures roughly 12 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. 2.7 miles away sits Upper Alton, the nearest town. St. Louis is the closest city, 22 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Alton Twin Lakes South Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Madison County, recorded fish include common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish and goldfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Alton Twin Lakes South Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 77°F and January reads 27°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Alton Twin Lakes South Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Downing Pond is 1.9 miles distant. Check the position on Alton Twin Lakes South Lake before loading the car.