Hickory Ridge Lake Fishing in Putnam County, Illinois

• Overview

  This water sits in Putnam County, Illinois. The bank is 440 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 62 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The town to know is Depue, 4.5 miles out. It is 40 miles to North Peoria, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hickory Ridge Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Putnam County list bluegill, green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish and gizzard shad. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Hickory Ridge Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 74°F in July and bottoms out near 21°F in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near mid March; the fishing lifts straight after. Climate averages put the opening at about mid March and the closing near mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Hickory Ridge Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. A slipway is marked about 0.9 miles from here. The car has to stay 0.9 miles away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. The water borders Hartman Hunting Club, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Hormel Ponds is 1.6 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Hickory Ridge Lake for certain.