Fishing Report
Valley Lake Fishing Report
Gages Lake, IL
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Modeled from live National Weather Service data as of Sep 9, 2026 at 2:29 PM CDT, plus solunar and sun/moon times computed in-house. This is a computed report, not an eyewitness catch report.
42.348967, -87.982804
Est. water temp
79.9°F
v1 estimate from air temperature — not a sensor reading
Notes from anglers
Imported from GNIS. Nearest town: Gages Lake (Lake County, IL).
Today’s bite
Black Crappie fishing report
Best window today: 11 PM (Excellent · 89/100)
See the full forecast →Species on record
Suggest a species for this lake →Species detail
How to catch them at Valley 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
Valley Lake · 42.3490, -87.9828
Map data © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors
Nearby
Other lakes nearby
FAQ
Common questions
What fish are in Valley Lake?
State surveys have confirmed Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Largemouth Bass in Valley Lake.
When's the best time to fish Valley 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 Valley Lake to see the best window for current conditions.
Where is Valley Lake?
Valley Lake is near Gages Lake, IL, at 42.3490, -87.9828.
Plan your trip to Valley Lake
Get the hour-by-hour bite forecast and the best times to fish Valley Lake, scored against live National Weather Service weather for this exact spot — showing what every input contributed and how well the evidence supports it.