Spoon Lake Fishing in Knox County, Illinois

• Overview

  This water sits in Knox County, Illinois. Land around it is pine and birch. This is sizeable water at about 547 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. At about 10 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. By surface area it heads our Knox County listings. For a base, Knoxville sits 8.5 miles out. Further out sit Galesburg (12 miles) and Elmwood (15 miles). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Spoon Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Reported across Knox County: johnny darter, largemouth bass, white sucker, slenderhead darter and golden redhorse. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Spoon Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 75°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid March. From about mid March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Spoon Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. South Lake sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Spoon Lake carry more weight than any list.