Fishing Heron Lake in Perry County, Illinois

• Overview

  Heron Lake stands in Perry County, Illinois. The bank gives way to rolling hill. Pinckneyville sits 5.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. St. Louis sits 60 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Near neighbours include: Elm Lake at 0.3 miles, 0.3 miles away is Ash Lake, Oak Lake at 0.3 miles, 0.4 miles away is Hook Lake and Marsh Lake at 0.4 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Heron Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Perry County, recorded fish include bluegill, johnny darter and slough darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Heron Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 78°F, the coldest about 30°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Time your trip to Heron Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a slipway at Heron Lake, roughly half a mile off. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Elm Lake, 0.3 miles away. None of that is settled for Heron Lake in what we hold.