Pine Lake, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Logan County entry here is Pine Lake, in Illinois. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Logan County standards. Mount Pulaski sits 3.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Springfield, 27 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Pine Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Survey and observation records for Logan County include common carp, golden redhorse, johnny darter, green sunfish and channel catfish. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Pine Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 76°F for July and 24°F for January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually mid March. Climate averages put the opening at about mid March and the closing near late December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Anyone fishing Pine Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Laenna Lake sits 6.3 miles off and takes the overflow. For Pine Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.