Kinkaid Lake Fishing near Murphysboro, Illinois

• Overview

  Illinois holds Kinkaid Lake, in Jackson County. It sits in farm and woodlot country. About 3.6 sq miles, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. With about 32 miles of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. Nothing else we list in Jackson County covers more water. You are 7.4 miles from Murphysboro. The big place round here is St. Louis, 70 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kinkaid Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Fish documented in Jackson County include bluegill, orangethroat darter and green sunfish. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Kinkaid Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 31°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Expect Kinkaid Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Lake Murphysboro, 4.7 miles away. What applies at Kinkaid Lake may have changed since it was mapped.