Mud Lake Fishing near Pistakee Highlands, Illinois

• Overview

  The Lake County end of Illinois holds Mud Lake. Elevation runs to 732 feet. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Lake County standards. The closest town, Pistakee Highlands, is 2.4 miles distant. The big place round here is Elgin, 28 miles distant. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Lake County include bluegill, common carp, green sunfish and pumpkinseed. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Anyone new to Mud Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 19°F in January and 72°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. From about late March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That shapes the year on Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Anglers are recorded at Gill's, roughly half a mile off. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For Mud Lake in particular, ask before you travel.