Thompsonville Lake Fishing near Benton, Illinois

• Overview

  Within Franklin County, Illinois, you have Thompsonville Lake. The surface lies 453 feet up. Roughly 44 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Head to Benton, 10 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, West Frankfort at 11 miles and Johnston City at 13 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Thompsonville Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Franklin County: bluegill, shortnose gar, green sunfish and longear sunfish. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat Thompsonville Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 30°F to 78°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Thompsonville Lake rarely departs from it. Early and late in the day beat the middle for most of the year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. West Frankfort City Lake sits 4 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Thompsonville Lake in what we hold.