Fishing at Spring Lake, McDonough County, Illinois

• Overview

  Spring Lake is a McDonough County water, Illinois side. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. At about 239 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. With 5.9 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Macomb lies 4.7 miles from the water. Peoria sits 62 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Spring Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Fish documented in McDonough County include common carp, green sunfish, johnny darter and channel catfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Spring Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 75°F, the coldest about 22°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and late December closes it again. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. On Spring Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Argyle Lake is 5 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Spring Lake for certain.