Spatterdock Lake near Alton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Spatterdock Lake is listed under Madison County, Illinois. This is open valley country. It runs to roughly 75 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It lies lower than most water we list in Illinois. Alton is the closest place, 3.1 miles off. It is 19 miles to St. Louis, the nearest city. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Spatterdock Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Madison County, recorded fish include common carp, bluegill, green sunfish and channel catfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Spatterdock Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 78°F, the coldest about 28°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Spatterdock Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A ramp at Spatterdock Lake Access is mapped half a mile away. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Smelzer Lake is 1.1 miles off. Rules at Spatterdock Lake are worth checking on the day.