Fishing Raccoon Lake in Marion County, Illinois

• Overview

  You will find Raccoon Lake in Marion County, Illinois. It sits in open valley. The water covers around 611 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 6.9 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Among the waters listed for Marion County, none is wider. Start from Central City, 2.2 miles down the road. For a city, St. Louis is 60 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Raccoon Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Open biodiversity records for Marion County list green sunfish, slough darter, bluegill and longear sunfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Raccoon Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 28°F in January. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. At Raccoon Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Greenview Country Club Pond One at 4.8 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Raccoon Lake may have changed since it was mapped.