Fishing at Willow Lake, Perry County, Illinois

• Overview

  Look for Willow Lake in Perry County, Illinois. It stands 423 feet above sea level. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. It is a small entry by Perry County standards. The nearest town is Pinckneyville, 5.5 miles away. St. Louis sits 60 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Willow Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Perry County list bluegill, johnny darter, slough darter, largemouth bass and longear sunfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Willow Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 78°F in July. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan around that when you fish Willow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Launch at Crystal Lake, half a mile from the water. There is somewhere to leave the car, 70 yards off. Public data records a pier about 120 yards out. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. A toilet block sits 140 yards away. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Crescent Lake at 0.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Willow Lake should be assumed from this page alone.