Mud Lake near Shawneetown: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Hardin County, Illinois, this is Mud Lake. The water sits 322 feet up. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. Around 1.3 miles of margin, front to back. The closest town, Shawneetown, is 8 miles away. Sturgis is 11 miles away, with Morganfield at 15 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Hardin County records list spottail darter, stripetail darter, rainbow darter and longear sunfish among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Mud Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 32°F to 78°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. The season on Mud Lake follows the weather closely. A settled spell fishes better than a bright one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Pounds Lake at 6.2 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Mud Lake in what we hold.