Fishing Flat Lake in Jo Daviess County, Illinois

• Overview

  In Illinois, Flat Lake falls inside Jo Daviess County. The bank gives way to pine and birch. Roughly 114 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 2.2 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Head to Bellevue, 6.2 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Davenport, 48 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Flat Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Jo Daviess County include common carp, johnny darter, bluegill, white sucker and white bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Flat Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 73°F, the coldest about 18°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Flat Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Jackson Lake, 0.4 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Flat Lake.