Fishing Kepler Lake in Peoria County, Illinois

• Overview

  You will find Kepler Lake in Peoria County, Illinois. It lies 669 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Peoria County are larger. Nearest town is Toulon, 8.9 miles off. Beyond it, Wyoming at 11 miles and Princeville at 11 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Kepler Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Survey and observation records for Peoria County include common carp, white perch, goldfish and bluegill. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Kepler Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 74°F; the cold one sits at 21°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid March. Ice clears near mid March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Kepler Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Cowen Pond, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Kepler Lake before loading the car.