Lily Lake near Lakemoor: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lily Lake is set in McHenry County, Illinois. It sits in rolling bush. At about 100 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Shoreline comes to about 1.9 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest place of any size is Lakemoor, 0.4 miles away. Further out sit Volo (2 miles) and McHenry (3 miles). This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for McHenry County names bluegill, largemouth bass, green sunfish, pumpkinseed and channel catfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Lily Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 72°F and January near 20°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Lily Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Sullivan Lake at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Lily Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.