McCarty Slough near Beardstown: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  McCarty Slough is a Schuyler County water, Illinois side. The water sits 440 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 16 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Some 5.3 miles away sits Beardstown, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Virginia (10 miles) and Astoria (11 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on McCarty Slough

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Schuyler County names common carp, goldfish and white perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. McCarty Slough repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 76°F in July and bottoms out near 25°F in January. In milder years the surface never sets. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It sets the rhythm of the year at McCarty Slough.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Carp respond to sweetcorn or boilies fished patiently on the bottom near feeding areas. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Toppers Hole at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at McCarty Slough carry more weight than any list.