Valier Lake in Franklin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Illinois holds Valier Lake, in Franklin County. The surroundings are farm and woodlot. It measures about 57 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.5 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The nearest town is Sesser, 3.4 miles away. For a city, St. Louis is 75 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Valier Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Public occurrence data for Franklin County names bluegill, shortnose gar and green sunfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Valier Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 30°F in January. Some winters cap it and some do not. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Valier Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Sesser Lake at 2 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Valier Lake if anything is unclear.