Nugent-Schpanski Number 4 Lake Fishing in Jersey County, Illinois

• Overview

  Out in Jersey County, Illinois, sits Nugent-Schpanski Number 4 Lake. The water sits 686 feet up. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Jersey County list holds plenty of bigger water. Jerseyville sits 9.6 miles from the bank. Further out sit Godfrey (15 miles) and Old Jamestown (15 miles). This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Nugent-Schpanski Number 4 Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Species logged across Jersey County include orangethroat darter, bluegill and green sunfish. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read this water for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 76°F; by January the average is down near 27°F. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Nugent-Schpanski Number 6 Lake at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on this water before loading the car.