Fishing Lake Suzanne in Saint Clair County, Illinois

• Overview

  Lake Suzanne is set in Saint Clair County, Illinois. The water sits 597 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 2 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Saint Clair County. For supplies, Shiloh is 0.4 miles out. The nearest city of size is St. Louis, 17 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Suzanne

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. County-wide records name bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass and common carp. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Lake Suzanne decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 78°F and January at 29°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Lake Suzanne runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Fairwood Lake at 2.5 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Lake Suzanne may have changed since it was mapped.