Craig Lake in Clark County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Craig Lake sits within Clark County in Illinois. The land about it is farm and woodlot. At roughly 18 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Nothing else we list in Clark County covers more water. The closest town, Martinsville, is 9.4 miles distant. Beyond it, Marshall at 11 miles and Casey at 13 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Craig Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Clark County include johnny darter, bluegill and orangethroat darter. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Craig Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 27°F in January to roughly 76°F in July. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Craig Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lake Walton at 7.5 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Craig Lake is worth confirming on the day.