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Best bluegill lakes in Illinois

66 Illinois waters list bluegill (official records or labelled estimates), 23 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Lake Springfield — 22 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
2. Mississippi River Pool 19 (Keokuk) — 43 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
3. Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) — 53 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, SaugerWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
4. Lake Mattoon — 28 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
5. Anderson Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
6. Sara Lake — 48 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
7. Washington County Lake — 16 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
8. Shabbona Lake — 40 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Charleston Lake — 14 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
10. Homer Lake — 16 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 4 public access sites
11. Lincoln Trail State Park Lake — 38 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Lake Altamont — 31 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. Siloam Springs Lake — 38 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
14. Walnut Point Lake — 28 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
15. Kickapoo State Park Lake — 70 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Carthage Reservoir — 18 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Lake Jacksonville — 36 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Greenfield Lake — 22 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. Olson Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, MuskellungeWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Boulder Lake — 44 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. La Harpe Reservoir — 14 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Carlinville Lake — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
23. Elizabeth Lake — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
24. Vermont Lake — 10 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. Lake of the Woods — 25 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 41 more Illinois waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in Illinois

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

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