Fishing near Belvidere, Illinois

Belvidere is a Boone County town, on the Illinois side. The place runs to some 25,132 residents. On the doorstep and beyond: 5.4 miles away is County Lake, 6.3 miles away is Candlewick Lake to the north and 11 miles away is Windsor Lake. The far bank of Windsor Lake is the quiet one, and it usually fishes better. Most of this was built rather than formed. Stony ground fishes better than mud in the cold. Cold spells can close them, though not every year. Nothing here is dependable in winter. County Lake sits nearest and covers some 11 acres. There is a car park at County Lake, according to mapping. Expect the lakes here to open about late March. Boone County records cover banded darter, fantail darter, johnny darter and redfin pickerel. Reservoirs make up most of the choice here. For Belvidere anglers, County Lake is the default rather than the choice....