Fishing at McDonough Lake, Madison County, Illinois

• Overview

  McDonough Lake lies within the bounds of Madison County, Illinois. It stands 400 feet above sea level. At about 61 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It lies lower than most water we list in Illinois. For a base, Collinsville sits 3 miles out. Glen Carbon is 3.4 miles away, with Maryville at 3.5 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on McDonough Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Madison County names common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, channel catfish and goldfish. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Work McDonough Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 78°F, while January sits near 29°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to McDonough Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Edelhardt Lake, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on McDonough Lake before loading the car.