Fishing Long Lake in Knox County, Illinois

• Overview

  Long Lake is listed under Knox County, Illinois. Height above sea level is 781 feet. At roughly 14 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It sits higher than most water we list in Illinois. Nearest place of any size is Knoxville, 11 miles away. Galva follows at 13 miles, then Galesburg at 14 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Knox County records list johnny darter, largemouth bass, white sucker, slenderhead darter and golden redhorse among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Long Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 75°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count the season from break-up, usually mid March. From about mid March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Long Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Crawdad Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Long Lake locally before you travel.