Clear Lake in Perry County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Clear Lake is listed under Perry County, Illinois. Elevation runs to 449 feet. About 14 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Pinckneyville is the closest town at 3.4 miles. Du Quoin is 9.1 miles and Steeleville 14 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish. It gives up fish to patience rather than to gear.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Perry County include bluegill, johnny darter, slough darter and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Clear Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 78°F, the coldest about 30°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Clear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. The slipway at Clear Lake is half a mile away. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. There are picnic tables half a mile away. There are toilets half a mile off. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Plum Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Clear Lake for certain.