Clear Lake near Champaign: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Within Champaign County, Illinois, you have Clear Lake. Height above sea level is 725 feet. The town to know is Champaign, 2.4 miles out. For a city, Springfield is 75 miles off. Other water nearby: Maynard Lake just 1.6 miles, Mattis Lake lies 2.7 miles on, Lake of the Woods just 7.5 miles, Trautman Lake lies 9 miles on and Greenwood Lake just 16 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Champaign County cover bluegill, orangethroat darter, green sunfish and longear sunfish. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Treat Clear Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 76°F in July and bottoms out near 24°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid March in spring and again near late December in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Expect Clear Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. A car park sits roughly 120 yards away. There is a marked fishing area 140 yards from here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Maynard Lake sits 1.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Clear Lake if anything is unclear.