Pekin Lake near Pekin: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Pekin Lake lies in Tazewell County, in Illinois. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. Surface area is around 70 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Few waters listed in Tazewell County are bigger. The closest town, Pekin, is 1.4 miles away. The nearest city of size is Peoria, an 8.1 miles drive. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Pekin Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Tazewell County: common carp, white perch, goldfish and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Pekin Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 23°F to 76°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually mid March. The water is typically free of ice between mid March and late December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Pekin Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows a ramp about 0.9 miles from the shore. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Waheld Pond, 2.7 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Pekin Lake for certain.