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

• Overview

  The Perry County entry here is Cottonwood Lake, in Illinois. Elevation runs to 456 feet. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Pinckneyville, is 3.4 miles distant. Du Quoin lies 8.9 miles off, Steeleville another 14 miles. If this one is busy: Clear Lake at 0.2 miles, Beehive Lake some 0.3 miles off, Plum Lake at 0.3 miles, Lost Lake some 0.5 miles off and Hidden Lake at 0.8 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Perry County list bluegill, johnny darter, slough darter and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Cottonwood Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, January about 30°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That shapes the year on Cottonwood Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The nearest recorded ramp is Clear Lake, 110 yards out. Parking is mapped about 90 yards from the bank. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. There are toilets 140 yards off. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Clear Lake, 0.2 miles out. Rules at Cottonwood Lake are worth checking on the day.