Lost Lake Fishing near Harrisburg, Illinois

• Overview

  Lost Lake is listed under Saline County, Illinois. The water sits 341 feet up. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Saline County. Start from Harrisburg, 5.4 miles down the road. The big place round here is Evansville, 53 miles distant. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lost Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Saline County include bluegill, black bullhead, green sunfish and threadfin shad. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Lost Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 78°F; the cold one sits at 31°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lost Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Setten Slough sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Lost Lake carry more weight than any list.