Fishing Izaak Walton Lake in Woodford County, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Woodford County, Illinois, this is Izaak Walton Lake. The bank is 771 feet above sea level. It sits higher than most water we list in Illinois. Metamora lies 2.4 miles from the water. Germantown Hills follows at 3.7 miles, then Washington at 6.2 miles. More in the same country: Wildwind Lake within 2.9 miles, Lake Santa Fe after 3.4 miles, Bowen Lake within 4.5 miles, Rich Lake after 6 miles and Upper Peoria Lake within 6.9 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Izaak Walton Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Woodford County: orangethroat darter, stonecat, white sucker, johnny darter and banded darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Izaak Walton Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 74°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid March. Break-up sits around mid March on average, with the water closing again about mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Izaak Walton Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Black Partridge Park covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Wildwind Lake at 2.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Izaak Walton Lake for certain.