Bath Lake in Mason County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Mason County, Illinois, is where Bath Lake sits. Height above sea level is 456 feet. At about 150 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The closest town, Havana, is 7.8 miles distant. For a city, Springfield is 38 miles off. More in the same country: Bell Lake at about 1.8 miles, Moscow Lake after 1.9 miles, Swan Lake at about 2.7 miles, Carlson Lake after 3 miles and Dierker Lake at about 3.5 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Bath Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Mason County cover common carp, goldfish, white perch, channel catfish and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Bath Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 76°F and January about 24°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid March. Break-up sits around mid March on average, with the water closing again about late December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bath Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Bell Lake is 1.8 miles distant. For Bath Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.