Smithton Sportmans Club Lake Fishing in Saint Clair County, Illinois

• Overview

  In Illinois, Smithton Sportmans Club Lake belongs to Saint Clair County. The surface lies 482 feet up. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Saint Clair County list. Smithton lies 2.6 miles from the water. Freeburg lies 6.6 miles off, Millstadt another 7.2 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Smithton Sportmans Club Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Survey and observation records for Saint Clair County include bluegill, green sunfish, largemouth bass, common carp and shortnose gar. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Smithton Sportmans Club Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, January about 29°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Expect Smithton Sportmans Club Lake to follow that timing. Cool nights slow the mornings but sharpen the evenings.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Draabs Lake, 3.5 miles away. Confirm access to Smithton Sportmans Club Lake locally before you travel.