Jordan Lake in Richland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Jordan Lake is a Richland County water, in Illinois. This is rolling hill country. At 9 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. You are 4.3 miles from Olney. The big place round here is Evansville, 55 miles distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end. Ground round the water is easy walking in most parts.

• Where to Fish on Jordan Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public occurrence data for Richland County names green sunfish, bluegill and longear sunfish. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Jordan Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 77°F in July and bottom out at 28°F in January. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Jordan Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Hahn Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Jordan Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.