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Best bluegill lakes in Illinois

24 Illinois waters hold bluegill, 20 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — 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 · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass
2. Mississippi River Pool 19 (Keokuk) — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
3. Anderson Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
4. Mississippi River Pool 13 (Clinton) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Sauger
5. Sara Lake — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
6. Washington County Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
7. Lake Mattoon — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie
8. Shabbona Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
9. Charleston Lake — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Saugeye, Crappie
10. Homer Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill
11. Lincoln Trail State Park Lake — 38 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger
12. Otter Lake — 51 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
13. Siloam Springs Lake — 38 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
14. Walnut Point Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
15. Kickapoo State Park Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
16. Carthage Reservoir — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, Bluegill
17. Vermont Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
18. Greenfield Lake — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
19. Olson Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Muskellunge
20. Boulder Lake — 44 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
21. La Harpe Reservoir — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
22. Carlinville Lake — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
23. Lake Altamont — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
24. Lake of the Woods — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish

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.

Also in Illinois: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best saugeye lakes · best sauger lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes

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