Fishing Report
Dawson Lake Fishing Report
Ellsworth, IL
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Modeled from live National Weather Service data as of Sep 8, 2026 at 12:44 PM CDT, plus solunar and sun/moon times computed in-house. This is a computed report, not an eyewitness catch report.
40.403368, -88.723401
Est. water temp
85.4°F
v1 estimate from air temperature — not a sensor reading
Notes from anglers
Imported from GNIS. Nearest town: Ellsworth (McLean County, IL).
Today’s bite
Black Crappie fishing report
Best window today: 10 PM (Good · 75/100)
See the full forecast →Species on record
Suggest a species for this lake →Species detail
How to catch them at Dawson Lake
Black Crappie feed most actively at Dawn and Dusk, when activity runs about 16% above the daily average across all four light windows.
Typical Summer depth: 10-20 ft
Black Crappie fishing report →Bluegill feed most actively at Dawn and Dusk, when activity runs about 33% above the daily average across all four light windows.
Typical Summer depth: 10-20 ft
Bluegill fishing report →Channel Catfish feed most actively at Night, when activity runs about 36% above the daily average across all four light windows.
Typical Summer depth: 1-9 ft
Channel Catfish fishing report →Largemouth Bass feed most actively at Dawn and Dusk, when activity runs about 21% above the daily average across all four light windows.
Typical Summer depth: 8-20 ft
Largemouth Bass fishing report →
Location
Dawson Lake · 40.4034, -88.7234
Map data © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors
Nearby
Other lakes nearby
FAQ
Common questions
What fish are in Dawson Lake?
State surveys have confirmed Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Largemouth Bass in Dawson Lake.
When's the best time to fish Dawson Lake?
Black Crappie feed most actively at Dawn and Dusk, when activity runs about 16% above the daily average across all four light windows. Check today's bite forecast for Dawson Lake to see the best window for current conditions.
Where is Dawson Lake?
Dawson Lake is near Ellsworth, IL, at 40.4034, -88.7234.
Plan your trip to Dawson Lake
Get the hour-by-hour bite forecast and the best times to fish Dawson Lake, scored against live National Weather Service weather for this exact spot — showing what every input contributed and how well the evidence supports it.