Downing Pond Fishing near Bethalto, Illinois

• Overview

  The Madison County entry here is Downing Pond, in Illinois. Height above sea level is 561 feet. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Madison County list. Bethalto lies 3.7 miles from the water. St. Louis is the closest city, 23 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Downing Pond

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Madison County include common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish and goldfish. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Downing Pond to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 27°F in January and 77°F in July. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Downing Pond fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Paridise Lake is 1.8 miles off. None of that is settled for Downing Pond in what we hold.