Smelzer Lake near Alton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Smelzer Lake is set in Madison County, Illinois. The land about it is farm and woodlot. This is a pocket water of some 23 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Illinois listings. Alton is the closest place, 4.2 miles off. It is 19 miles to St. Louis, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Smelzer Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Madison County include common carp, bluegill, green sunfish and channel catfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Smelzer Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 78°F in July and bottoms out near 28°F in January. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Smelzer Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is a slipway at Dresser Island, roughly half a mile off. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Spatterdock Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Smelzer Lake before loading the car.