Lake DeRevey in Vermilion County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake DeRevey is set in Vermilion County, Illinois. The bank is 666 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Vermilion County standards. The town to know is Rossville, 3.3 miles out. It is 85 miles to Joliet, the nearest city. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake DeRevey

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Survey and observation records for Vermilion County include greenside darter, rainbow darter and longear sunfish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Lake DeRevey as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 74°F on average, January about 24°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid March. Break-up near mid March, freeze-up near late December: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Lake DeRevey by conditions rather than dates.

• 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. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Windfall Lake sits 8.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lake DeRevey before loading the car.