Misquakee Lake, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Misquakee Lake lies in Carroll County, in Illinois. It stands 597 feet above sea level. Roughly 26 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. You are 1.6 miles from Savanna. It is 44 miles to Davenport, the nearest city. Nearby, in order: Bowens Lake 0.6 miles off, Spring Lake some 1.8 miles off, Lower Sabula Lake 2.4 miles off, Middle Sabula Lake some 2.4 miles off and Upper Sabula Lake 2.4 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Misquakee Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Carroll County include common carp, bluegill, orangespotted sunfish, johnny darter and smallmouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Misquakee Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 18°F in January to roughly 73°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Misquakee Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Bowens Lake, 0.6 miles out. The position on Misquakee Lake is worth confirming on the day.