Valley Friends Lake Fishing near Andalusia, Illinois

• Overview

  Set in Rock Island County, Illinois, this is Valley Friends Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Rock Island County are larger. Supplies mean a trip to Andalusia, 3.7 miles off. Davenport is the closest city, 13 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Valley Friends Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Open biodiversity records for Rock Island County list channel catfish, goldfish and common carp. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Valley Friends Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 75°F for July and 21°F for January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid March. Break-up near mid March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Valley Friends Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Mud Slough is 1.4 miles off. The position on Valley Friends Lake is worth confirming on the day.