Ferne Clyffe Lake Fishing Guide, Johnson County, Illinois

• Overview

  Ferne Clyffe Lake belongs to Johnson County, Illinois. Elevation runs to 591 feet. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Start from Goreville, 1.5 miles down the road. Evansville is the closest city, 83 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here. It is easier to fish well than to fish quickly.

• Where to Fish on Ferne Clyffe Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Survey and observation records for Johnson County include bluegill, stripetail darter, longear sunfish, yellow bullhead and green sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Ferne Clyffe Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 31°F and July at about 78°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan around that when you fish Ferne Clyffe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. A picnic site half a mile off makes this workable with family in tow. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Dutchman Lake sits 4.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Ferne Clyffe Lake before loading the car.