West Frankfort City Lake Fishing in Franklin County, Illinois

• Overview

  Illinois holds West Frankfort City Lake, in Franklin County. Height above sea level is 440 feet. Roughly 205 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With 3.9 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Few waters listed in Franklin County are bigger. Nearest town is West Frankfort, 7.6 miles off. The big place round here is Evansville, 68 miles distant. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on West Frankfort City Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Franklin County records list bluegill, shortnose gar and green sunfish among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On West Frankfort City Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 78°F and January reads 31°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. West Frankfort City Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. West Frankfort Reservoir, 1.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on West Frankfort City Lake before loading the car.