Fishing at Hormel Ponds, Bureau County, Illinois

• Overview

  Hormel Ponds lies in Bureau County, Illinois. The water sits 456 feet up. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Bureau County. Start from Depue, 3.7 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is North Peoria, 41 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Hormel Ponds

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Bureau County include bluegill, green sunfish and white sucker. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Hormel Ponds the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 74°F, with January the cold end at about 21°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and mid March brings it back. Break-up sits around mid March on average, with the water closing again about mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Hormel Ponds more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Lake Rawson is 0.9 miles off. Treat Hormel Ponds as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.