Fishing at Crescent Lake, Henry County, Illinois

• Overview

  Crescent Lake sits within Henry County in Illinois. The country here is mixed forest. At 24 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Illinois listings. You are 11 miles from Orion. Cambridge is 12 miles and Coal Valley 17 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Crescent Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Henry County include johnny darter, green sunfish, common carp and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Crescent Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 74°F at the top of summer and 21°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count the season from break-up, usually mid March. Open water usually runs from mid March until about mid December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Crescent Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Lake Lynnwood is 8 miles distant. What applies at Crescent Lake may have changed since it was mapped.