Lake Hamilton in Franklin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Franklin County, Illinois, is where Lake Hamilton sits. The ground around here is farm and woodlot. Roughly 33 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Supplies mean a trip to Benton, 4 miles off. Evansville is the closest city, 74 miles away. Also on the doorstep: Lake Benton roughly 0.4 miles, Rend Lake Marina at 4.2 miles, Sesser Lake roughly 7.1 miles, Buckner Reservoir at 7.5 miles and Valier Lake roughly 7.7 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lake Hamilton

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Franklin County cover bluegill, shortnose gar and green sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Lake Hamilton the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 30°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That is the shape of the year on Lake Hamilton.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Public data records a boat ramp 130 yards out. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Lake Benton is 0.4 miles off. Ask locally about Lake Hamilton if anything is unclear.