Hidden Pond Slough near Hickory Hills: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cook County in Illinois is where Hidden Pond Slough sits. Elevation runs to 745 feet. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Cook County. The closest town, Hickory Hills, is 1.3 miles distant. Chicago sits 14 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Pond Slough

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Cook County include common carp, bluegill and green sunfish. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Hidden Pond Slough should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 22°F and July at about 74°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid March. Ice usually gives way near mid March, and forms again about mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That shapes the year on Hidden Pond Slough.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is a car park, Hidden Pond Woods - West, 90 yards from the bank. A picnic area is mapped about 140 yards away. There are toilets 170 yards off. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Red Wing Slough is 0.3 miles distant. Where Hidden Pond Slough is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.