Bessler Lake in Tazewell County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bessler Lake lies in Tazewell County, in Illinois. It stands 764 feet above sea level. It sits higher than most water we list in Illinois. Marquette Heights is the closest place, 3.5 miles off. North Pekin follows at 4.5 miles, then Creve Coeur at 4.8 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish. There is enough here to keep coming back.

• Where to Fish on Bessler Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Species logged across Tazewell County include common carp, white perch and goldfish. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Bessler Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 75°F in July and bottom out at 22°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid March. Break-up sits around mid March on average, with the water closing again about late December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bessler Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Grand Oaks Lake is 0.4 miles off. For Bessler Lake in particular, ask before you travel.