Citation Lake, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Citation Lake sits in Cook County, out in Illinois. The country here is mixed forest. The water measures roughly 10 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Nearest town is Northbrook, 2.2 miles off. Wheeling is 3.6 miles away, with Prospect Heights at 3.8 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Citation Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Survey and observation records for Cook County include common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, gizzard shad and goldfish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Citation Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 73°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Citation Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Carp respond to sweetcorn or boilies fished patiently on the bottom near feeding areas. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lake Shermerville, 1.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Citation Lake.