Little John Club Lake, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Knox County, Illinois. The ground round it is mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 11 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Knoxville, is 11 miles away. It is 32 miles to North Peoria, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Little John Club Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Knox County include johnny darter, largemouth bass, white sucker, slenderhead darter and golden redhorse. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Little John Club Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 75°F and January about 22°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter locks it down, and mid March brings it back. The season between ice runs from about mid March to mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Little John Club Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Long Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Little John Club Lake before loading the car.