Lily Lake Fishing near Cahokia, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Saint Clair County, Illinois, this is Lily Lake. The setting is farm and woodlot. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Saint Clair County standards. Cahokia lies 1.4 miles from the water. Centreville lies 3.2 miles off, Dupo another 3.4 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Saint Clair County include bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass and common carp. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Lily Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 79°F in July and bottoms out near 29°F in January. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Lily Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Parking is close: a car park sits 150 yards from the bank. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Whispering Willow Lake is 5 miles off. Confirm before you fish Lily Lake.