Fishing Orchard City Lake in Henderson County, Illinois

• Overview

  Orchard City Lake sits within Henderson County in Illinois. The bank gives way to lake country bush. It measures about 36 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The nearest town is Burlington, 1.9 miles away. For a city, Davenport is 57 miles off. Round about: Carthage Lake (0.4 miles), Crystal Lake 2 miles away, Brush Lake (4.2 miles), Izaak Walton Lake 4.2 miles away and West Lake (4.4 miles). A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Orchard City Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name bluegill, common carp, gizzard shad, channel catfish and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Orchard City Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 76°F in July and bottom out at 23°F in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and late December closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That shapes the year on Orchard City Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Carthage Lake is 0.4 miles off. Nothing on Orchard City Lake should be assumed from this page alone.