Fishing at Peckerwood Lake, Jefferson County, Illinois

• Overview

  Peckerwood Lake falls in Jefferson County, part of Illinois. The bank is 515 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Jefferson County list. Start from Mount Vernon, 4 miles down the road. After that come Wamac at 14 miles and Ina at 15 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Peckerwood Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Jefferson County records list green sunfish, bluegill, white sucker, largemouth bass and longear sunfish among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Peckerwood Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 78°F, with January the cold end at about 29°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Peckerwood Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Public data records a pier about 0.9 miles out. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Hawthorne Hills Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Peckerwood Lake before loading the car.