Fishing at Inez Lake, Saint Clair County, Illinois

• Overview

  Look for Inez Lake in the Saint Clair County part of Illinois. Around the bank it is open valley. It covers about 4 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Saint Clair County are larger. Start from Swansea, 1.3 miles down the road. The big place round here is St. Louis, 14 miles distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Inez Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish documented in Saint Clair County include bluegill, green sunfish and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Inez Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 29°F in January to roughly 78°F in July. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. At Inez Lake the season follows that pattern closely. A cold snap sets things back for several days.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Yoch Lake is 0.5 miles off. Treat Inez Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.