Windemere Lake, Illinois: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Clark County, Illinois, is where Windemere Lake sits. The ground around here is farm and woodlot. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. Our Clark County list holds plenty of bigger water. West Terre Haute is the closest place, 3.5 miles off. The big place round here is Indianapolis, 75 miles distant. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Windemere Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records held for Clark County cover johnny darter, bluegill, orangethroat darter, green sunfish and rainbow darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Windemere Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 76°F and January at 26°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Windemere Lake the same rules apply, with local timing. A grey, mild day is often better than a bright, still one.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Wanda Lake, 0.6 miles away. Where Windemere Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.