Hollis Park Lake in Peoria County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Peoria County, Illinois, this is Hollis Park Lake. Elevation runs to 548 feet. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. Lake Camelot lies 3.6 miles from the water. For a city, Peoria is 11 miles off. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply. There is room enough here for more than one party without crowding.

• Where to Fish on Hollis Park Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Across Peoria County, recorded fish include common carp, white perch and goldfish. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Hollis Park Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 76°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid March until roughly late December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hollis Park Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Hollis Park covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Pond Lily Lake, 1.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Hollis Park Lake are worth checking on the day.