Setten Slough Fishing Guide, Saline County, Illinois

• Overview

  Look for Setten Slough in the Saline County part of Illinois. The bank is 344 feet above sea level. It measures about 25 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Our Saline County list holds plenty of bigger water. Harrisburg sits 5.7 miles from the bank. Evansville sits 53 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Setten Slough

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Flats either side fish on the drop as bait is pushed off them. Salt and fresh mix here, and the mixing line is worth finding. Survey and observation records for Saline County include bluegill, black bullhead, green sunfish, threadfin shad and brindled madtom. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Setten Slough gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 78°F for July and 31°F for January. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It sets the rhythm of the year at Setten Slough.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Lost Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Setten Slough may have changed since it was mapped.