Fishing at Lake Henry, Jackson County, Illinois

• Overview

  Illinois holds Lake Henry, in Jackson County. The country round it is rolling hill from end to end. Small at around 15 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Jackson County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Murphysboro, 2.9 miles away. St. Louis sits 78 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lake Henry

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Jackson County records list bluegill, orangethroat darter, green sunfish, largemouth bass and longear sunfish among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Lake Henry fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 31°F in January to roughly 79°F in July. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Time your trip to Lake Henry by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Chautauqua Lake sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Lake Henry, the notice at the access point is the final word.