Fishing Shawnee Bay in Johnson County, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Johnson County, Shawnee Bay is an Illinois water. The surface lies 502 feet up. The water covers some 143 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Among the waters listed for Johnson County, none is wider. The town to know is Goreville, 3.6 miles out. The big place round here is Evansville, 79 miles distant. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Shawnee Bay

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Flats either side fish on the drop as bait is pushed off them. Slack water is dead water on a place like this. Fish documented in Johnson County include bluegill, stripetail darter, longear sunfish and yellow bullhead. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Shawnee Bay to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 31°F in January up to 78°F in July. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Time your trip to Shawnee Bay by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Bethlehem Bay is 0.8 miles distant. For Shawnee Bay, the notice at the access point is the final word.