Fishing at Lake Benton, Franklin County, Illinois

• Overview

  Lake Benton is a Franklin County water, in Illinois. The bank gives way to open valley. At about 44 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.7 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Ground here is low by Illinois standards. For a base, Benton sits 4 miles out. Ina is 6.6 miles and Sesser 7.8 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Benton

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Across Franklin County, recorded fish include bluegill, shortnose gar, green sunfish and longear sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Lake Benton the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 30°F in January and 78°F in July. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Expect Lake Benton to follow that timing. Long daylight spreads fish out; short daylight concentrates them.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lake Hamilton is 0.4 miles distant. Signs at Lake Benton carry more weight than any list.