Fishing Suttonbush Slough in Cook County, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Cook County, Suttonbush Slough is an Illinois water. Height above sea level is 679 feet. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Hickory Hills lies 1.7 miles from the water. Willow Springs follows at 1.7 miles, then Justice at 2.1 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Suttonbush Slough

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Cook County include common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, gizzard shad and goldfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Suttonbush Slough light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 74°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid March. The open-water window runs from around mid March to about mid December in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Suttonbush Slough more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A picnic spot sits half a mile from the bank. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. For the carp, bait a margin spot and sit on it; corn and bread still work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Red Wing Slough at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Suttonbush Slough should be assumed from this page alone.