Coffman Lake near Forreston: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Coffman Lake lies in Ogle County, Illinois. The land about it is rolling bush. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. On size it sits at the modest end of our Ogle County list. For a base, Forreston sits 4.8 miles out. Beyond it, Freeport at 9.7 miles and Mount Morris at 10 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Coffman Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Ogle County list johnny darter, green sunfish, rainbow darter, least darter and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Coffman Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 18°F at the bottom of winter. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. Averages suggest open water from about late March through to roughly mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. At Coffman Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lake Louise, 14 miles away. Check the position at Coffman Lake before loading the car.