Pistakee Lake Fishing near Fox Lake, Illinois

• Overview

  In Illinois, Pistakee Lake falls inside Lake County. The surroundings are rolling bush. At some 2.7 sq miles it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Of the waters listed here in Lake County, this is the largest. The town to know is Fox Lake, 1.1 miles out. Beyond it, Pistakee Highlands at 1.6 miles and Johnsburg at 2.2 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Pistakee Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Lake County include bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, pumpkinseed and largemouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Pistakee Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Pistakee Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A ramp at Bald Knob Marina Boat Launch is mapped half a mile away. You will be walking about 0.9 miles from the nearest car park. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Brandenburg Lake, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Pistakee Lake are worth checking on the day.