Fishing Bond Lake in Fulton County, Illinois

• Overview

  The Fulton County entry here is Bond Lake, in Illinois. It sits in pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 24 acres — small enough to read in one session. Some 1.7 miles away sits Canton, the nearest settlement. Farmington follows at 8.8 miles, then Cuba at 9.1 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge. In wet weather the last stretch of track is the awkward part.

• Where to Fish on Bond Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. County-wide records name common carp, goldfish, white perch, bluegill and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Bond Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 23°F to 75°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid March the shallows warm and the fish move up. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid March and starts locking again about late December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Bond Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Lakeland Park covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Veterans Lake, 0.2 miles away. Check the position on Bond Lake before loading the car.