Lake of the Woods Fishing Guide, Peoria County, Illinois

• Overview

  Look for Lake of the Woods in the Peoria County part of Illinois. Everything around it is pine and birch. At 12 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Supplies mean a trip to Dunlap, 4.3 miles off. Rome follows at 6.3 miles, then Peoria Heights at 6.3 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake of the Woods

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public occurrence data for Peoria County names common carp, white perch, goldfish, bluegill and orangethroat darter. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lake of the Woods repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 74°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid March. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid March in spring and again near mid December in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Lake of the Woods more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A pier or jetty stands 30 yards away, which helps on a crowded bank. A picnic site 0.9 miles off makes this workable with family in tow. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Smith Lake sits 3.1 miles off and takes the overflow. For Lake of the Woods in particular, ask before you travel.