Patterson Bay in Mason County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Patterson Bay is one of the Mason County waters in Illinois. It lies 430 feet above sea level. With some 51 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 2.7 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Illinois listings. Start from Astoria, 10 miles down the road. For a city, Springfield is 38 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Patterson Bay

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Mason County list common carp, goldfish and white perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Patterson Bay rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 76°F, while January sits near 24°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and late December closes it again. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Patterson Bay more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Curtis Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Patterson Bay carry more weight than any list.