South Pond, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  South Pond is one of the Cook County waters in Illinois. It sits at 604 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Cook County are larger. Start from Lincoln Park, 0.9 miles down the road. The big place round here is Chicago, 5 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on South Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Cook County: common carp, bluegill and green sunfish. The county list is broader than any single water. Anyone new to South Pond should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 73°F; the cold one sits at 24°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid March. From about mid March to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Anyone fishing South Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You can launch from a ramp around 130 yards away. Mapping shows parking within 120 yards. A jetty or pier is mapped about 30 yards from here. Somewhere to sit and eat is 130 yards out. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is North Pond, 0.8 miles out. Confirm before you fish South Pond.