Hambaugh-Martin Number 1 Reservoir in Pike County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hambaugh-Martin Number 1 Reservoir lies in Pike County, in Illinois. Height above sea level is 512 feet. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Nearest place of any size is Meredosia, 4.8 miles away. It is 53 miles to Springfield, the nearest city. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Hambaugh-Martin Number 1 Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Records held for Pike County cover green sunfish, orangethroat darter, fantail darter and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On this water the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 76°F; the cold one sits at 25°F. In milder years the surface never sets. 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. Anyone fishing this water regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Lake Mount Sterling, 12 miles away. What applies at this water may have changed since it was mapped.