Fishing Lost Lake in Knox County, Illinois

• Overview

  Lost Lake lies in Knox County, Illinois. It stands 725 feet above sea level. At 13 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Knoxville, is 12 miles away. After that come Galva at 13 miles and Toulon at 13 miles. Close neighbours run: Lone Rock Lake within 0.4 miles, Trailer Lake 0.6 miles off, Green Oaks Lake within 1.1 miles, Crawdad Lake 1.2 miles off and Long Lake within 1.6 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lost Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Records held for Knox County cover johnny darter, largemouth bass, white sucker, slenderhead darter and golden redhorse. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Lost Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 74°F and January near 21°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After mid March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid March until roughly mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Lost Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Lone Rock Lake, 0.4 miles out. Check the position on Lost Lake before loading the car.