Lake Calhoun, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lake Calhoun stands in Stark County, Illinois. It sits in mixed forest. With some 32 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Galva lies 4.3 miles from the water. North Peoria is the closest city, 35 miles away. Nearest other option: Old Garage Lake 6.3 miles off, Fishhook Lake roughly 8.6 miles, Kepler Lake 8.8 miles off, Roundhouse Lake roughly 8.8 miles and Lake Windsor 9.1 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lake Calhoun

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Survey and observation records for Stark County include johnny darter, orangethroat darter, smallmouth bass, white sucker and golden redhorse. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lake Calhoun gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 74°F in July and bottoms out near 21°F in January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid March. Averages suggest open water from about mid March through to roughly mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That shapes the year on Lake Calhoun.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. 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. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Old Garage Lake at 6.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Lake Calhoun are worth checking on the day.