Fishing Lake Louise in Shelby County, Illinois

• Overview

  The Shelby County entry here is Lake Louise, in Illinois. The surroundings are rolling hill. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The nearest place of any size is Shelbyville, 4 miles away. Then Windsor, 6.7 miles, and Sullivan, 14 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Louise

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Shelby County cover muskellunge, common carp, slenderhead darter and channel catfish. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Lake Louise gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 76°F at the top of summer and 26°F at the bottom of winter. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. It holds true on Lake Louise more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Lake Shelbyville is 3.9 miles off. Check the position at Lake Louise before loading the car.