Fishing Hidden Lake in Perry County, Illinois

• Overview

  Hidden Lake falls in Perry County, part of Illinois. It lies 423 feet above sea level. It covers about 9 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is low-lying compared with other Illinois water we list. Pinckneyville lies 4.2 miles from the water. It is 60 miles to St. Louis, the nearest city. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Perry County list bluegill, johnny darter and slough darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Hidden Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 78°F in July. Some winters cap it and some do not. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That shapes the year on Hidden Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a slipway at Lost Lake, roughly half a mile off. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. There are picnic tables half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Blackberry Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Check the position on Hidden Lake before loading the car.