Bowles Slough, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bowles Slough is set in Henry County, Illinois. The land about it is lake country bush. Roughly 38 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. It is among the larger waters listed here for Henry County. Carbon Cliff sits 2.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Davenport, 9.3 miles distant. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Bowles Slough

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Henry County include johnny darter, green sunfish, common carp, bluegill and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Bowles Slough decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 75°F and January near 21°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid March. Ice clears near mid March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Bowles Slough fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Coaltown Slough, 0.7 miles out. None of that is settled for Bowles Slough in what we hold.