Upper Stump Lake, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Upper Stump Lake is a Calhoun County water, Illinois side. The surface lies 433 feet up. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Illinois listings. The nearest place of any size is Winfield, 9.4 miles away. Further out sit Saint Paul (14 miles) and Jerseyville (15 miles). You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Upper Stump Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Calhoun County records list common carp, orangespotted sunfish, bluegill, gizzard shad and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Upper Stump Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 77°F, the coldest about 28°F. In milder years the surface never sets. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Upper Stump Lake that shapes the whole year. Wind on the bank for a day or two lifts the fishing there.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Stump Lake gives a made launch, half a mile off. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A toilet block sits half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lower Flat Lake, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Upper Stump Lake for certain.