Krause Pond in Bureau County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Bureau County entry here is Krause Pond, in Illinois. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Surface area runs to about 2 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Bureau County are larger. Princeton is the closest place, 6.8 miles off. Walnut is 10 miles away, with Depue at 16 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Krause Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Bureau County cover bluegill, green sunfish, white sucker and orangethroat darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Krause Pond for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 74°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late March. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Krause Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Bolton Lakes at 6.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Krause Pond for certain.