L P Dolan Lake Fishing near Norris City, Illinois

• Overview

  In Illinois, L P Dolan Lake belongs to Hamilton County. The ground round it is rolling hill. Roughly 72 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 2.0 miles keeps the choices simple. It lies lower than most water we list in Illinois. For a base, Norris City sits 6.6 miles out. Then McLeansboro, 7.6 miles, and Carmi, 14 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on L P Dolan Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Hamilton County include green sunfish, bluegill and slough darter. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of L P Dolan Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 78°F in July. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan any trip to L P Dolan Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. A picnic site half a mile off makes this workable with family in tow. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Centerville Mens Club Lake, 6.9 miles away. None of that is settled for L P Dolan Lake in what we hold.