Babb Slough, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Marshall County, Illinois, sits Babb Slough. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. At 2.8 sq miles this is proper open water rather than a pond. Of the waters listed here in Marshall County, this is the largest. The nearest town is Chillicothe, 4 miles away. The nearest city of size is North Peoria, 19 miles away. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Babb Slough

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Marshall County include green sunfish, largemouth bass, logperch, orangethroat darter and golden redhorse. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Babb Slough rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 75°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid March. Ice usually gives way near mid March, and forms again about late December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Babb Slough follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Meadow Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Babb Slough.