Otter Lake Fishing Guide, Macoupin County, Illinois

• Overview

  Otter Lake falls in Macoupin County, part of Illinois. It lies 633 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 672 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. There is roughly 15 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Among the waters listed for Macoupin County, none is wider. Supplies mean a trip to Girard, 7.1 miles off. Springfield sits 30 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Otter Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Records held for Macoupin County cover green sunfish, bluegill, white sucker, yellow bullhead and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Otter Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 76°F at the top of summer and 26°F at the bottom of winter. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Otter Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Sunset Lake, 3.4 miles out. Treat Otter Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.