Marissa Recreation Association South Lake Fishing near Marissa, Illinois

• Overview

  Marissa Recreation Association South Lake is set in Saint Clair County, Illinois. The water sits 476 feet up. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. Supplies mean a trip to Marissa, 1.7 miles off. Beyond it, Sparta at 7.9 miles and New Athens at 10 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Marissa Recreation Association South Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Saint Clair County include bluegill, green sunfish and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Marissa Recreation Association South Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, January about 30°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Marissa Recreation Association South Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Marissa Reservoir at 1.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Marissa Recreation Association South Lake if anything is unclear.