Heild Pond Fishing Guide, Jersey County, Illinois

• Overview

  Heild Pond stands in Jersey County, Illinois. This is rolling hill ground. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The town to know is Jerseyville, 4.9 miles out. Brighton lies 11 miles off, Carrollton another 12 miles. Within easy reach: Crystal Lake a touch under 5.8 miles, Rowden Lake a shade over 7.7 miles, Jones Pond a touch under 7.9 miles, Thunderbird Lake a shade over 11 miles and Lake Piasa a touch under 11 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Heild Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. County-wide records name orangethroat darter, bluegill, green sunfish, gizzard shad and logperch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The near bank of Heild Pond is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 26°F and July at about 77°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Heild Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. 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. For a change of water, Crystal Lake is 5.8 miles distant. For Heild Pond in particular, ask before you travel.