Centerville Mens Club Lake Fishing in Hamilton County, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Hamilton County, Illinois, this is Centerville Mens Club Lake. Around the bank it is farm and woodlot. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For a base, McLeansboro sits 2.3 miles out. Norris City follows at 13 miles, then Wayne City at 16 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Centerville Mens Club Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Species logged across Hamilton County include green sunfish, bluegill, slough darter and black bullhead. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Centerville Mens Club Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, January about 30°F. In milder years the surface never sets. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Centerville Mens Club Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is L P Dolan Lake, 6.9 miles out. Confirm before you fish Centerville Mens Club Lake.