Third Lake near Third Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Third Lake belongs to Lake County, Illinois. Elevation runs to 761 feet. With some 154 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Illinois listings. The nearest town is Third Lake, 0.3 miles away. Gages Lake follows at 2.1 miles, then Grandwood Park at 2.1 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Third Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Lake County cover bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, pumpkinseed and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Third Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 20°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish Third Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Druce Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Third Lake.