forest preserve district ofdupage county - daily … pond white pine pond 15 cricket creek green...

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

DuPage County Forest Preserves

Fishing Lakes of DuPage County

4 Rules and Regulations

5 Creel Limits

6 Boating

7 IDPH Advisories andFishing Journal

8 DuPage County Rivers

9 Fisheries Management

10 Fish Stocking Report

22 Lakes and Ponds Chart

36 Fish and CPR

38 Aquatic Invaders

39 Common Fish of DuPage County

12 Big WoodsPoss Lake

13 BlackwellSilver LakeSand PondWhite Pine Pond

15 Cricket CreekGreen LakeStonewort PondRiverbend Pond

17 DanadaRice Lake

18 East BranchRush LakeSunfish Pond

19 Hawk HollowMuskrat Pond

20 Herrick LakeHerrick LakeWest Lagoon

21 Hidden LakeRound Meadow LakeEagle Lake

24 Mallard LakeMallard LakeCloverdale Pond

25 MayslakeTrinity LakeMays’ Lake

26 McDowell GroveMud Lake

27 Meacham GroveMaple Lake

28 Pratt’s Wayne WoodsPickerel LakeCatfish PondHorsetail PondHarrier Lake

31 Songbird SloughSongbird Lake

32 Spring Creek ReservoirSpring Creek Reservoir

33 Timber RidgeTimber Lake

34 West BranchBass LakeDeep Quarry Lake

35 Wood Dale GroveGrove Lake

The information provided in this guide is subject to change.

Fishing in DuPage CountyC O N T E N T S

Forest Preserve District of DuPage CountyP.O. Box 5000 • Wheaton, IL 60189

(630) 933-7200 • TTY (800) 526-0857

dupageforest.org

4

Dear Fishing Enthusiast:

Every day is a great day tofish at one of DuPageCounty’s forest preserves.

With over 30 lakes andponds, 47 miles of rivers andstreams, and 15 species offish, DuPage forest preserveshave the perfect opportunityfor any angler.

Before you head out, pleasetake a moment to read thefollowing pages for the rulesand regulations that governfishing in DuPage forestpreserve waters. Together, wecan keep the District’s fishingprogram a continued success.

Enjoy!

D. “Dewey” Pierotti Jr.PresidentForest Preserve District of DuPage County

Rules and Regulations

Rules and RegulationsUnless otherwise posted, fishing is permitted in all Forest Preserve District ofDuPage County lakes and ponds and along the West and East Branch of the DuPageRiver, Salt Creek and any tributaries. The District’s rules are generally similar toIllinois’ but may be more restrictive to sustain certain species at certain locations.

1. Any angler 16 or older who is not legally disabled must carry a valid Illinoisfishing license. Anglers must also have Inland Trout Stamps to take troutfrom District lakes.

2. Fishing hours are the same as regular forest preserve hours: one hour aftersunrise to one hour after sunset. Night fishing is only allowed at DeepQuarry Lake at West Branch Forest Preserve; anglers must be out of thepreserve by 11 p.m.

3. Each angler can fish with no more than two poles or tip-ups with no morethan two hooks or lures attached to each.

4. Anglers must release fish into the same waters in which they were caught.

5. Illinois law requires that anglers remove all aquatic plants and animals fromall equipment before moving the equipment away from any body of water.

6. Anglers cannot fish with nets, seines, traps, bows and arrows, spears or slingshots.

7. Anglers may not fish for or collect crayfish, mussels, or any amphibians orreptiles, such as turtles and frogs.

8. Anglers can use minnows, worms, insects, lures, stink bait, wet flies, bloodbait or dough balls but not amphibians, reptiles or crayfish. They cannotcollect bait in the forest preserves, and they must dispose of all bait andbait water in the trash or on the ground far from shore.

9. An angler must release a fish if it is shorter than the required “minimumlength” for that species. An angler cannot possess more of a species perday than that species’ daily “creel limit.”

10. Unless otherwise noted, anglers may fish from shorelines, piers and boatsand may wade in rivers and streams. Wading in lakes or ponds, swimming,and using rubber rafts or similar flotation devices are not allowed.

11. Ice fishing is permitted on most forest preserve waters unless otherwiseposted. Due to fluctuating water levels, ice fishing is never allowed at SpringCreek Reservoir. Each angler may fish from no more than two holes at onetime, and holes must be less than 10 inches in diameter. Anglers can onlyuse portable shelters and must remove them when not in use.

Rangers do not monitor ice; all ice-related activities are done at the user’sown risk. As a guideline, not a guarantee, a minimum of 4 inches isrecommended. Ice may be safe in one spot yet very thin only a few feetaway; river currents, underwater springs, animal activity or runoff from localroads can all create hard-to-detect areas of thin ice.

AccessibilityThe Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. Individuals with accessibility needs or concerns should contact the District’s ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days before their visit.

• Large game fish are likely in

shallow water during spring

and fall and in deeper,

cooler water during the

hot summer months.

• Most fish have good color

vision. Largemouth bass

are especially attracted to

bright reds.

• Prime hours for fishing

are early morning and

late afternoon.

dupageforest .org 5

Daily Limits for Lakes per licensed angler

Species Min. Length Creel LimitLargemouth or smallmouth bass 15" three per day (any combination)

Channel or flathead catfish 12" three per day (any combination)

Northern pike 24" three per day

Walleye 16" three per day

Crappie 9" 15 per day

Muskie 48" one per day

Rainbow trout none five per day

Yellow perch 10" four per day

Yellow, white or hybrid bass under 17" noneover 17" three per day (any combination)

Forest Preserve Specific Largemouth bass 18" one per day

East Branch on Rush Lake and Sunfish PondHidden Lake on Eagle and Round Meadow lakesMayslake on Trinity and Mays’ lakesWest Branch on Bass and Deep Quarry lakesWood Dale Grove on Grove Lake

Daily Limits for Rivers per licensed angler

Species Min. Length Creel LimitChannel or flathead catfish 12" three per day (any combination)

Crappie 9" 15 per day

Northern pike 24" three per day

Walleye 16" three per day

Largemouth or smallmouth bass 15" three per day (any combination)In all rivers, anglers must release smallmouth bass April 1– June 15. In the WestBranch of the DuPage River, smallmouths are catch-and-release year-round betweenthe canoe launch at Warrenville Grove and Fawell Dam at McDowell Grove.

Creel Limits

MEASURING FISH LENGTH LENGTH: The length of a fish should be measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail fin (with the tail fin in itsnatural position).

Total Length

Call 911 for

EMERGENCIESCall (630) 933-7240 for nonemergency

public-safety issues.

OFFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

Help us keep your forest preserves safe. Call to report any emergencies or violations.

6

Boating

Boat, Canoe and Kayak Rentals1. Rentals, bait and vending machines are available at Blackwell Forest Preserve

starting the first Saturday in April and at Herrick Lake Forest Preservestarting the first Saturday in May. Both are open weekends through the endof September and daily Memorial Day through Labor Day.

2. Rentals include life jackets, which all boaters must wear, and are $10 perhour and $50 per day. Boats with trolling motors are available at Blackwellfor $15 per hour and $75 per day. For more details, call (630) 933-7248.

Private Watercraft1. Boating is allowed on three forest preserve lakes: Silver Lake at Blackwell,

Round Meadow Lake at Hidden Lake and Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake.Boats must be off the water by sunset.

2. All watercraft must have Illinois Department of Natural Resourcesregistrations and Forest Preserve District permits.

Permits DuPage resident $7 per day or $35 per yearNonresident $9 per day or $45 per year

Purchase At District Headquarters Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.3S580 Naperville RoadWheaton (630) 933-7248

Blackwell Rental Area Open Seasonally

Senior citizens are entitled to one free annual permit per calendar year. Daily permits are also available at lock boxes at all three lakes.

3. Watercraft must be nongasoline-powered and under 20 feet long, such asboats, canoes, kayaks and multichambered inflatables with factory-installedhardened floors and transoms. Sailboats are only permitted on Silver Lake.

4. Silver Lake has a boat ramp; boaters at Round Meadow and Mallard lakesmust transport watercraft on or in their vehicles (no trailers) and carrythem to the water.

5. Federal and state regulations require that watercraft contain one well-fitting,wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board andthat boaters under 13 wear their life jackets at all times. District regulationsrequire all individuals wear life jackets when in private canoes or kayaks.

6. Illinois law requires that boaters remove all aquatic plants and animals fromall watercraft and equipment before moving watercraft or equipment awayfrom any body of water.

7. Paddlers with IDNR-registered canoes and kayaks can enter the West andEast Branch of the DuPage River and Salt Creek at their own risk at anypractical forest preserve location except Oak Meadows. District permits arenot required on these waterways. At Oak Meadows, paddlers may only exitSalt Creek to portage around the dam. The District has established canoelaunches at several preserves.

Waterway Forest PreservesWest Branch Blackwell, McDowell Grove and Warrenville GroveSalt Creek Cricket Creek, Fullersburg Woods near Graue Mill, Salt Creek

Park and Salt Creek Greenway at Hunter Road (exit only)

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has stocked the West Branch of the DuPage River with 18- to 22-inch tagged smallmouth bass. Researchers hope to find out which parts of the river smallmouth use and how stocked and natural populations compare.

If you catch a tagged bass, call the IDNR at (630) 553-0164.Leave a message with the • Tag number and color (white or green)• Date and place you caught the fish • Length of the fish

Do not remove any tags.(This can injure the fish.) Also, to help this research even more, please release any tagged fish you catch. For details on this program, visit www.ifishillinois.org/dupage, or call the Illinois Natural History Survey at (217) 244-1516. Thank you, and happy fishing!

dupageforest .org 7

IDPH Advisories

TheOutdoorReport

(630) 871-6422Call for fishing, trail and

winter-sports updates andfor info on DuPage forest

preserve events.

Fishing Journal

Forest Preserve __________________________________

Lake _______________ Date ________ Time _______

Weather Conditions ______________________________

Fish Species Caught _______________________________

Lures/Bait Used __________________________________

Location on Lake _________________________________

Additional Notes _________________________________

_______________________________________________

Forest Preserve __________________________________

Lake _______________ Date ________ Time _______



Lures/Bait Used __________________________________

Location on Lake _________________________________


_______________________________________________

Forest Preserve __________________________________

Lake _______________ Date ________ Time _______



Lures/Bait Used __________________________________

Location on Lake _________________________________


_______________________________________________

Forest Preserve __________________________________

Lake _______________ Date ________ Time _______



Lures/Bait Used __________________________________

Location on Lake _________________________________


_______________________________________________

The Illinois Department of Public Health has posted the following advisories. For more information, call the IDPH at (217) 782-5830, or visit idph.state.il.us.

West Branch of the DuPage RiverCarp (all sizes) one meal per weekSmallmouth bass (over 15") one meal per week but one meal per month

for women who are nursing or pregnant or may become pregnant and for children under 15

East Branch of the DuPage RiverCarp (all sizes) one meal per week

Salt CreekCarp (under 24") one meal per monthCarp (over 24") six meals per year

8

West Branch of theDuPage RiverWest Branch Forest PreserveArmy Trail Road at Gerber Road inBartlett. Moderate 125-yard walk weston gravel trail.

Blackwell Forest PreserveMack Road 0.25 mile east of Route 59in West Chicago at end of parking lot.

Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve Batavia Road 1 mile south of ButterfieldRoad (Route 56) in Warrenville.Moderate 25-yard walk on paved trail.

McDowell Grove Forest PreserveRaymond Road 1 mile south of DiehlDrive in Naperville next to parking lot.

Pioneer Park Forest PreserveWashington Avenue 0.25 mile north ofHobson Road in Naperville. Moderate50-yard walk on turf trail.

River Fishing

Tips and Tricks

• Paying close attention to

the current can yield a

good catch of smallmouth

bass. The bass will stick to

cover when there’s a strong

current and will move out

into the open when the

current is slow.

• When angling for those

bottom-feeding catfish

along river banks, make

sure you cast with the

current. If you cast against

the current, the river’s

flowing water will drag your

bait along the bottom, and

you’ll risk getting caught on

a snag.

DuPage County Rivers

There are three main river systems in DuPage County: the West Branch of theDuPage River, the East Branch of the DuPage River and Salt Creek. All threecontain large- and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, green sunfish, crappie,yellow and black bullhead, carp, white sucker, and northern pike. Anglers can alsofish for flathead catfish and pumpkinseed both branches of the DuPage River andwalleye in Salt Creek.

NOTICENOTICEZebra Mussels MayZebra Mussels May

Live In These WatersLive In These WatersTake Action to Prevent Their SpreadTake Action to Prevent Their Spread

East Branch of theDuPage RiverChurchill Woods Forest PreserveSt. Charles Road 0.25 mile west ofRoute 53 in Glen Ellyn. Moderate 75-yard walk on gravel trail.

Hidden Lake Forest PreserveRoute 53 0.5 mile south of ButterfieldRoad (Route 56) in Downers Grove.Moderate 50-yard walk.

Salt CreekCricket Creek Forest PreserveFullerton Avenue 0.25 mile east of Villa Avenue in Addison. Moderate 25-yard walk on gravel trail.To reach the lot while the Fullerton Avenuebridge is closed, take Route 83 south toFrontage Road north to Sunrise Road westto Central Avenue south to Fullerton.

Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve Spring Avenue 1 mile north of York Roadin Oak Brook. Moderate 25-yard walk.

Salt Creek Park Forest PreserveElizabeth Road at Addison Road inWood Dale. Moderate 65-yard walk on gravel trail.

Same-Day LoansBlackwell & Herrick Lake

Forest PreservesCall (630) 933-7248 for details.

Same-Day & Overnight LoansChurchill Woods Forest PreserveCall (630) 792-2100 for details.

with the “Access to Fishing” loanable rod-and-reel program

Loans are free and are limited to one rodand reel per person. A valid drivers license isrequired for each individual or group rental.

Go Fish

dupageforest .org 9dupageforest .org 9

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has an active fisheries-management program at over 30 lakes and ponds. With assistance from agencieslike the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the District works to maintainbalanced aquatic ecosystems that can support healthy populations of game fish,such as largemouth bass, bluegills, channel catfish and muskies.

The District’s fisheries biologist conducts water-quality surveys; determines theappropriate species and population densities for each body of water; and employsa variety of management techniques, such as improving underwater habitats bysubmerging fish cribs made from wooden pallets, trees or clay tiles. Theintroduction of nonreproducing, weed-eating fish such as grass carp is also part ofthe program. Grass carp keep aquatic flora in check, which increases overall waterquality and decreases the number of weed-tangled lines and lost lures for anglers.

The Muskies of Mallard LakeIn September 2006 the Forest Preserve District with assistance from the IDNRand the Illini Muskies Alliance stocked Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake ForestPreserve with muskellunge fingerlings. It was the first time that the District hadadded this species to a DuPage County lake. Muskies are not only popular sportfish but also important predators that help improve a lake’s overall health byeating foods untouched by other aquatic animals. (They can also benefit the healthof local economies by attracting anglers in search of that 50-inch trophy!)

It will be a few years before the muskies in Mallard Lake reach the 48-inchminimum creel length. In the meantime, anglers may easily mistake the youngmuskies for northern pike, which are also in the lake. Illustrations of both speciesare below and at the back of this guide, and detailed identification signs are postedat Mallard Lake.

Muskie or Northern? Know the Difference!• Muskies have dark vertical markings on a light background. Northern pike

have light horizontal, round or oval-shaped spots on a dark background.

• The paired fins (front two on the bottom) and tail fins on a muskie are more pointed; on a northern, they’re more rounded.

• A muskie has scales only on the upper part of the cheek. Scales cover the entire cheek on a northern.

Fisheries Management

light, horizontal, round or oval-shaped spots on dark background

Northern Pike(Esox lucius)

24-inch minimum catchable length

Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)

48-inch minimum catchable length

rounded tail finpointed tail finpointed paired fins

scales on entire cheekscales on upper part of cheek

dark, vertical markingson light background

rounded paired fins

10

This report contains a list

of fish stocked in forest

preserve lakes between

2009 and 2012. Except for

trout, all fish are fingerlings.

Smallmouth bass1 – 1.5"

Largemouth bass5 – 7"

Channel catfish3 – 4" ▲8 – 10"

Northern pike12 – 14"

Walleye8 – 10"

Crappie4 – 6"

Bluegill1"

Perch5 – 7"

Muskie12 – 14"

Fish Stocking Report

Herrick Lake in WheatonHerrick Lake

Largemouth bass 550 04/11Channel catfish 675 07/11Channel catfish ▲ 9,900 05/12

Hidden Lake in Downers GroveEagle Lake

Channel catfish 550 05/12Round Meadow Lake

Largemouth bass 300 11/09Channel catfish 750 04/10Largemouth bass 150 09/10Largemouth bass 350 11/10

Mallard Lake in Hanover ParkMallard Lake

Walleye 2,000 10/09Yellow perch 4,000 04/10Muskie 89 09/10Yellow perch 1,950 10/10Walleye 2,500 11/10Largemouth bass 2,000 04/11Yellow perch 4,000 09/11Walleye 3,000 10/11Largemouth bass 100 04/12Channel catfish ▲ 24,000 05/12Channel catfish 4,200 05/12Northern pike 3,300 05/12Muskie 89 08/12Walleye 500 10/12Cloverdale Pond

Channel catfish 500 05/12

Mayslake in Oak BrookMays’ Lake

Largemouth bass 207 09/09Channel catfish 400 05/12Bluegill 500 10/12Trinity Lake

Largemouth bass 300 09/10Largemouth bass 310 04/12Channel catfish 200 05/12

McDowell Grove in NapervilleMud Lake

Largemouth bass 550 04/10Channel catfish 1,200 05/12

Meacham Grove in BloomingdaleMaple Lake

Largemouth bass 500 04/10Channel catfish 900 05/12Bluegill 750 10/12

Pratt’s Wayne Woods in WayneCatfish Pond

Largemouth bass 150 04/10Channel catfish 300 04/10Largemouth bass 50 04/12Channel catfish ▲ 2,250 05/12Northern pike 750 05/12

Big Woods in AuroraPoss Lake

Channel catfish ▲ 4,600 05/12

Blackwell in WarrenvilleSilver Lake

Rainbow trout 2,600 10/09Walleye 1,500 10/09Northern pike 300 11/09Rainbow trout 3,800 03/10Channel catfish 3,250 04/10Rainbow trout 2,800 10/10Northern pike 300 11/10Walleye 1,500 11/10Rainbow trout 2,905 03/11Walleye 1,500 10/11Northern pike 300 10/11Rainbow trout 2,400 10/11Rainbow trout 3,139 03/12Channel catfish ▲ 9,600 05/12Rainbow trout 3,275 10/12Walleye 1,500 10/12White Pine Pond

Channel catfish 450 04/10Channel catfish ▲ 5,000 05/12Sand Pond

Largemouth bass 160 07/09Channel catfish 15 07/09Bluegill 21 07/09Channel catfish 225 04/10Largemouth bass 185 04/12Channel catfish ▲ 3,000 05/12Bluegill 500 10/12Redear sunfish 500 10/12

Cricket Creek in AddisonGreen Lake

Largemouth bass 310 04/12Riverbend Pond

Largemouth bass 150 04/11Channel catfish 250 05/11Stonewort Pond

Largemouth bass 100 04/11Channel catfish 200 05/12

Danada in WheatonRice Lake

Channel catfish 1,800 05/11Largemouth bass 955 04/12

East Branch in Glendale HeightsRush Lake

Channel catfish 800 05/11Largemouth bass 435 04/12Sunfish Pond


Hawk Hollow in Hanover ParkMuskrat Pond



Pratt’s Wayne Woods in WayneCatfish Pond

Bluegill 3,750 10/12Redear sunfish 1,000 10/12Pickerel Lake

Rainbow trout 1,080 03/10Rainbow trout 1,600 10/10Northern pike 80 11/10Rainbow trout 1,600 03/11Largemouth bass 550 04/11Channel catfish 1,100 05/11Channel catfish 675 07/11Northern pike 80 10/11Rainbow trout 1,600 10/11Rainbow trout 1,600 03/12Channel catfish ▲ 9,900 05/12Northern pike 3,300 05/12Rainbow trout 1,800 10/12Horsetail Pond

Largemouth bass 75 04/10Channel catfish 150 04/10Largemouth bass 50 04/12Channel catfish ▲ 1,400 05/12Northern pike 450 05/12Redear sunfish 750 10/12Harrier Lake

Channel catfish 875 04/10Smallmouth bass 2,000 06/10Yellow perch 1,750 10/10Smallmouth bass 4,000 06/11Yellow perch 500 09/11Walleye 500 10/11Channel catfish ▲ 3,000 05/12Smallmouth bass 3,000 06/12Smallmouth bass 1,200 10/12Walleye 2,000 10/12

Songbird Slough in ItascaSongbird Lake

Northern pike 100 11/09Largemouth bass 375 04/10Northern pike 100 11/10Channel catfish 750 05/11Northern pike 100 10/11

Spring Creek Reservoir in BloomingdaleSpring Creek Reservoir

Channel catfish 2,400 05/11

Timber Ridge in West ChicagoTimber Lake

Channel catfish 800 05/11Largemouth bass 610 04/12

West Branch in BartlettDeep Quarry Lake

Rainbow trout 2,100 10/09Walleye 1,000 10/09Northern pike 200 11/09Channel catfish 2,000 04/10Largemouth bass 1,000 04/10Yellow perch 500 04/10

West Branch in BartlettDeep Quarry Lake

Northern pike 200 11/10Walleye 1,000 11/10Bass Lake

Northern pike 100 11/09Northern pike 100 11/10Northern pike 100 10/11Channel catfish 800 05/12Redear sunfish 1,000 10/12

West Branch of the DuPage RiverSmallmouth bass 100 at 18 – 22" 05/12 IDNRNorthern pike 2,400 at 6 – 8" 07/12 IDNR

Salt CreekSmallmouth bass 115 fingerlings 11/12

Wood Dale Grove in Wood DaleGrove Lake

Rainbow trout 350 10/09Rainbow trout 550 03/10Rainbow trout 800 10/10Rainbow trout 800 03/11Largemouth bass 250 04/11Channel catfish 500 05/11Rainbow trout 400 10/11Rainbow trout 800 03/12Bluegill 500 10/12Rainbow trout 400 10/12

Blackwell Forest Preserve • WarrenvilleSecond Sunday in June

Grab your fishing gear, and catch the excitement at a fishing derby created just for anglers 15 and younger. Contests, activities and prizes are only

part of the fun. Registration takes place the morning of the event, and an awardsceremony follows the derby. So come on down for a day at the lake.

For more information, call (630) 933-7248.

12

Largemouth bassThree per day at 15"

Bluegill

Channel catfishThree per day at 12"

Crappie15 per day at 9"

Green sunfish

Carp

Big Woods

Poss LakeBilter Road near the Batavia Spur of the Illinois Prairie Path in Warrenville. No parking.

Acres: 9

Anglers who fish off pointsand peninsulas usually catchmore fish. Fish, especiallybass, are attracted to theseareas because they providean ideal underwater passagefrom deep to shallow water.

&Fish SpeciesCreel Limits

North


Blackwell

4

5

5

5

5

4

5

6

4

45

25

5

5

5

5

55

4

23

10

24

10

10

15

10

101210

8

15

15

2820

2024

20

2525

25

25

25

353535

Fish crib

Tile

Fishing pier

Accessible

Boat-rental area

Silver LakeButterfield Road (Route 56) 0.5 mile west of Winfield Road in Warrenville. Parking around lake. Moderate walk on gravel or turf trails.

Acres: 62


Bluegill

Channel andflathead catfish

Total of three per day(any combination) at 12"


Green sunfish

Carp

Black bullhead

Northern pikeThree per day at 24"

WalleyeThree per day at 16"

Rainbow troutFive per day No minimum length


North

14

Blackwell

Sand PondFrom first parking lot off Butterfield Road, 0.3-mile walkaround White Pine Pond.

Acres: 4

Largemouth bass ●▲

Three per day at 15"

Bluegill ●▲

Channel catfish ●▲


Crappie ▲15 per day at 9"

Green sunfish ●▲

Carp ▲

Grass carp ▲

Redear sunfish ▲

● Sand Pond ▲ White Pine Pond

3

6

6

66

66

66

6

9

912

12

12 15

15

12

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

99

9


North

White Pine PondFrom first parking lot off Butterfield Road, moderate 50-yard walk west on gravel trail.

Acres: 9

Fish crib

Water intake

NOTICENOTICECatch and Release Only

Fishing pier

Accessible

Water intake


Cricket Creek

Fish crib

Green LakeFullerton Avenue 0.25 mile east of Villa Avenue. Moderate 50-yard walk on gravel trail south of Fullerton.

To reach the parking lot while the Fullerton Avenue bridge is closed, take Route 83 south to Frontage Road north to Sunrise Road west to Central Avenue south to Fullerton.

Acres: 9


Bluegill




Green sunfish

Carp

Black bullhead


North

16


Bluegill




Green sunfish

Carp

Black bullhead

Cricket Creek

Stonewort PondParking at model-boating area on Route 83 Frontage Road. Moderate 30-yard walk north.

Frontage Road lot open March 1 – Nov. 30 only. Use Fullerton Avenue lot Dec. 1 – Feb. 28, and walk south.

Acres: 3

Riverbend PondParking at model-boating area on Route 83 Frontage Road.Moderate 50-yard walk east.

Frontage Road lot open March 1 – Nov. 30 only. Use Fullerton Avenue lot Dec. 1 – Feb. 28, and walk south.

Riverbend Pond is a radio-controlled model-boating area. If model boats are in use, please fish Stonewort Pond to the north.

Acres: 5

Fish crib


North

dupageforest .org 17

7

5

3

2

5

4

5

2

1

10

10

10

10

10

8

13

10

10

14

10

15

10

10

13

5

8

15


Danada

Rice LakeParking at Danada Equestrian Center on Naperville Road 1 mile south of Butterfield Road(Route 56) in Wheaton. Moderate 0.7-mile walk on gravel trail northeast past stables.

Acres: 36


Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp

Brown bullhead


Line weight can often determine the quantity and sizeof your catch. Depending on the type of fish you’reattempting to hook, it’s best to use the smallest linepossible. Crappies are especially sensitive to line weightand will frequently ignore choice bait on heavy line.

North

18


One per day at 18"

Bluegill ●▲

Carp ●



Crappie ●▲

15 per day at 9"


Grass carp ●

Black bullhead ●

East Branch

Rush LakeGlen Ellyn Road 0.25 mile south of Army Trail Road in Glendale Heights.Moderate 50-yard walk downhill on gravel trail.

Acres: 15

Sunfish PondFrom Glen Ellyn Road parking lot, turf trail south of Rush Lake to hilly 125-yard walk.

Acres: 5

● Rush Lake ▲ Sunfish Pond

Fish crib


North

Fishing Prohibited in Off-Leash Dog Area



Bluegill



Green sunfish


Hawk Hollow

Muskrat Pond Army Trail Road at Klein Road in Bartlett. No parking.

Acres: 4

When fishing for catfish, fish thebottom of lakes and rivers duringthe evening because that’s whereand when catfish prefer to feed.Catfish have an acute sense ofsmell, so strong-smelling baits likechicken livers are your best betfor enticing catfish to your line.

Fish crib


North

20

Herrick Lake

5

3

3

4

13

5

5

3

7

5

5

13

7

1333

7

8

107

10

10

10

10

10

10

1010

10

10

10

15

Herrick LakeButterfield Road (Route 56) 0.25 mile east of Herrick Road in Wheaton. 25-yard walk on turf or gravel trail.

Acres: 22

Largemouth bassThree per day at 15”

Bluegill


Total of three per day(any combination) at 12”


Green sunfish

Carp

Grass carp

Black bullhead

&Fish Species Creel Limits

West LagoonHerrick Road 0.25 mile south of Butterfield Road (Route 56).Short walk on turf trail north.

North

Fish crib

Boat-rental area


Largemouth andsmallmouth bass ●▲

One per day at 18"

Bluegill ●▲



Crappie ●▲

15 per day at 9"


Carp ●▲

Black bullhead ▲


Hidden Lake

Round Meadow LakeRoute 53 0.25 mile south of Butterfield Road (Route 56) in Downers Grove. Moderate walk on turf trail.

Acres: 15

Eagle LakeFrom Route 53 parking lot, moderate 200-yard walk on gravel trail south over bridge.

Acres: 10

● Round Meadow Lake ▲ Eagle Lake

Fish crib


North

22

Lakes and Ponds

Big Woods Poss Lake 9 10'

Blackwell Silver Lake 62 35' PSand Pond 4 15' PWhite Pine Pond 9 15' P

Cricket Creek Green Lake 9 10' PStonewort Pond 3 9' PRiverbend Pond 5 9' P

Danada Rice Lake 36 22' PEast Branch Rush Lake 15 20' P

Sunfish Pond 5 25' PHawk Hollow Muskrat Pond 4 25'

Herrick Lake Herrick Lake/West Lagoon 22 15' PHidden Lake Round Meadow Lake 15 16' P

Eagle Lake 10 20' PMallard Lake Mallard Lake 85 25' P

Cloverdale Pond 9 17' PMayslake Trinity Lake 3 7' P

Mays’ Lake 8 7' PMcDowell Grove Mud Lake 22 16' PMeacham Grove Maple Lake 32 41' PPratt’s Wayne Woods Pickerel Lake 22 20' P

Catfish Pond 5 16' PHorsetail Pond 3 18' PHarrier Lake 20 20' P

Songbird Slough Songbird Lake 15 19' PSpring Creek Reservoir Spring Creek Reservoir 17 20' PTimber Ridge Timber Lake 17 11' PWest Branch Bass Lake 15 30' P

Deep Quarry Lake 40 45' PWood Dale Grove Grove Lake 9 30' P

Forest Preserve Lake or Pond Acres Max. Depth Private Boating

Boat Rentals

Parking

Restrooms

NOTICENOTICEZebra MusselsZebra Mussels

Infest These WatersInfest These Waters


Accessible

Fishing Piers

Species

Largemouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Bluegill

Channel catfish

Flathead catfish

Northern pike

Walleye

Crappie

Rainbow trout

Perch

Sunfish

Bullhead

Carp

Grass carp

Muskie

24



Bluegill ●▲

Channel ●▲ andflathead ● catfish


Crappie ●▲

15 per day at 9"


Carp ●▲

Black bullhead ▲

Northern pike ●Three per day at 24"

Walleye ●Three per day at 16"

Muskie ●One per day at 48"

Perch ●Four per day at 10"

Mallard Lake

Mallard LakeSchick Road 0.4 mile west of Gary Avenue in Hanover Park.Moderate 50-yard walk on gravel trail. Fishing not allowed on bridges.

Acres: 85

CloverdalePondFrom Schick Road parking lot, 0.6-mile walk on trail around Mallard Lake.

Acres: 9

85

5

5

5

5

5

3

2

5

5

25

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

10

10

10

12

10

10

102

10 10

10

10

10

15 15

15

15

15

15

13

1215

15

15

15

15

15

1520

15

15

25

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

25

25

● Mallard Lake ▲ Cloverdale Pond

8

8

5

8

7

5

32

35

10

12

17

10

12

11

15

1513

15


North

Fishing pier

Accessible


Largemouth bassOne per day at 18"

Bluegill

Carp



Green sunfish

Grass carp

Black bullhead


Mayslake

7

25

5

Private Property No Fishing

5

5

3

6

6

6

5

6

7

Private PropertyNo Fishing

Trinity LakeSt. Paschal’s Drive 0.5 mile south of 31st Street in Oak Brook. Moderate 150-yard walk ongravel and turf trail. Parking also at Mayslake Hall on 31st Street 0.4 mile west of Route 83.

Acres Owned by District: 3

Mays’ LakeFrom St. Paschal’s Drive parking lot, moderate 75-yardwalk on gravel trail.

Acres Owned by District: 8&Fish SpeciesCreel Limits

North

26

McDowell Grove


Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp

Black bullhead

Mud LakeRaymond Drive 0.5 mile south of Diehl Road in Naperville. Strenuous 1-mile walk on gravel trail north.

Acres: 22


Although the invasive common carp isfrequently considered to be the “uglyduckling” of any lake, this spirited fish isrelatively easy to catch and can provideanglers with lots of top-notch action. Thecarp is a bottom feeder, and there’s a sweettooth inside that suction-like mouth. Trymoistening some sugary cereal for bait.Just be sure to keep an eye on your fishingrod; carp are known for their power andquickness once they’ve been hooked.

North


Meacham Grove

12

241

5

5

10

15

10

10

15

20

25

30

35

36

40


Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp

Maple LakeCircle Avenue 0.25 mile north of Lake Street (Route 20) in Bloomingdale. Moderate to steep 100-yard walk on gravel trail and turf.

Acres: 32

Fish crib


North

The bluegill is one of the most commonfish in Illinois, and in 1986 it earned thetitle of Illinois State Fish. Bluegillsgenerally prefer shallow water and will take to almost any natural bait, especiallyinsects. For successful bluegill angling, use little or no weight with a very smallbobber. Bluegills can often detect heavyweights and large bobbers and may dropthe bait.

Area ClosedCritical Habitat

Prairies and wetlands south and west of Pickerel Lake provide critical habitat for rare and endangered species. Help these animals find ample undisturbed habitat by avoiding

these areas March through September.

28

Pratt’s Wayne Woods

Pickerel LakePowis Road 1 mile north of Army Trail Road in Wayne. 25-yard walk on paved trail from central or back parking area.

Acres: 22

North


Bluegill




Green sunfish

Rainbow troutFive per dayNo minimum length

Carp

Black bullhead



Fishing pier

Accessible



Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp

Grass carp



Catfish PondFrom back of Powis Road parking lot, moderate 50-yard walk on gravel trail.

Acres: 5

Horsetail PondFrom back of Powis Road parking lot, moderate 150-yard walk on gravel trail.

Acres: 3

Fish crib


North

30


Harrier LakeStearns Road 0.3 mile east of Powis Road. Moderate 50-yard walk.

Acres: 20

16

8

8

8

8

0

0

16

12

12

20

8

84

44

4

4

8

8

20

2016

12

Largemouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Bluegill

Channel catfish

Green sunfish

Walleye

Perch

Black bullhead


When fishing a river or stream, lookfor an eddy or slack water areaadjacent to the main current. Gamefish such as walleye and smallmouthbass like to sit in these areas waiting toambush baitfish.

North

NOTICENOTICECatch and Release Only



Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp



Songbird Slough

Songbird LakeMill Road 2 miles north of Lake Street (Route 20) in Itasca. Moderate 50-yard walk on turf trail.

Acres Available for Fishing: 15

Shallow Marsh

Fish crib


North

Northern pike, also known as jackfish, arewithout a doubt one of the trophy species inDuPage County. They are well known for theiraggressiveness and immense size potential; in fact,it’s not uncommon to hook one weighing 8pounds or more. These carnivorous fish prefercool water with lots of vegetation and can oftenbe found in the weedy shallows. Use your spoons,plugs and spinners in the hot summer months;then switch to minnows during the cool season.

32


Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp

Black bullhead

Spring Creek Reservoir

5

5

12

10

20

10

15

17

15

Spring Creek ReservoirLake Street (Route 20) 0.25 mile east of Glen Ellyn Road in Bloomingdale. Steep 175-yard walk on paved trail. Due to fluctuating water levels, ice fishing is not permitted on Spring Creek Reservoir.

Acres: 17

You can increase your anglingpleasure by fishing different lakes.In addition to the change ofscenery, you’ll enjoy the challengeof learning unfamiliar new waters.Topographical maps (like the onesprovided in this guide) can help youdetermine where to start, dependingon the species of fish you’re after.


North

Water intake



Bluegill



Green sunfish

Carp

Black bullhead


Timber Ridge

Timber LakeCounty Farm Road 0.7 mile south of North Avenue (Route 64) in West Chicago.Moderate 0.5-mile walk south of Kline Creek Farm parking lot on gravel trail.

Acres: 17


North

34

West Branch

Bass LakeArmy Trail Road at Gerber Road in Bartlett.Moderate 0.75-mile walk on gravel andturf trail.

Acres: 15

Deep Quarry LakeFrom Army Trail Road parking lot, moderate, steep 75-yard walk on gravel trail.

Acres: 40


One per day at 18"

Bluegill ●▲

Channel andflathead catfish ●▲


Crappie ●▲

15 per day at 9"


Carp ●▲

Grass carp ●

Northern pike ●▲


Walleye ▲Three per day at 16"

Perch ▲Four per day at 10"

● Bass Lake ▲ Deep Quarry Lake



Infest These WatersInfest These WatersTake Action to Prevent Their SpreadTake Action to Prevent Their Spread


Infest These WatersInfest These WatersTake Action to Prevent Their SpreadTake Action to Prevent Their Spread

North

Fish crib

Fishing pier

Accessible


Largemouth bassOne per day at 18"

Bluegill



Green sunfish

Rainbow troutFive per dayNo minimum length

Carp

Grass carp


Wood Dale Grove

Grove LakeWood Dale Road 2 miles north of Lake Street (Route 20) in Wood Dale. 25-yard walk on gravel trail.

Acres: 9

Bait collection is not permitted inDuPage County’s forest preserves, butthere’s plenty of bait to be found rightin your own backyard. Trout andbluegill are especially partial to insects;among their favorites are crickets andgrasshoppers, which you can easilycollect with a butterfly net. Worms are aperch’s favorite and are abundant onconcrete surfaces after rainfall and underrocks and logs when the weather is dry.


North

Fish crib

Fishing pier

Accessible

36

Fish & CPRNo, it’s not about giving a largemouth bass the breath

of life; it’s about practicing “Catch, Photograph and

Release.” Fish don’t multiply as fast as we can catch

them, but anglers who practice CPR can help to

maintain the Forest Preserve District’s high-quality

fisheries. Releasing fish — especially trophy fish — not

only gives other anglers a chance to experience the

thrill of a big catch but also allows larger, stronger

fish to remain in the gene pool, perhaps spawning

schools of similarly desirable fish.

• Match your tackle to the task. If you’re practicing CPR, use barbless hooks.They’re easier to remove and less likely to harm the fish, which improvessurvival rates. Barbless hooks can increase your strike-to-hook ratio, too,because you don’t have resistance from the barb.

• Once you hook a fish, don’t exhaust it. Play your catch quickly to releasethe fish in the best possible condition.

• If possible, always release your catch without lifting it from the water. If youmust handle the fish, wet your hands first to preserve its protectivecoating; if needed, use only a soft rubber net. You can lift fish like bass,bluegill and crappie out of the water by grasping the lower lip; but if a fishis over 3 pounds, also place a hand under its belly for support or you mightbreak its jaw. If you must lift a big fish or a toothy fish like a walleye,northern pike or muskie, use a net or a stretcher. If either is not available,though, place both hands under the fish’s belly to support as much of thebody as possible to avoid injuring internal organs. Never squeeze the fish,and never grip it by its eye sockets; this may cause blindness.

• Remove the hook with care. Always reach through the fish’s mouth andnever through its gills. Needle-nose pliers work well. For a deeply hookedfish, use a longer hook-out tool or disgorger. For a gut-hooked fish thatappears healthy enough to be released, cut the line as close to the hookas possible.

• Have a camera handy, and ask a friend to quickly photograph you and yourcatch. Try to line up the fish with your body or a fishing rod to provide asense of scale. Photos preserve the memories of those great catches andlet you release the fish back into the water.

• Know how to let go. Gently lower the fish back into the water, supporting it inan upright, swimming position. A healthy fish will take off in a flash, but a verytired fish may need a little more time, so be patient.


Each year Willowbrook Wildlife Center treats hundreds of wild animals injured by fishing tackle. Help lower those numbers by putting unwanted hooks, lures and bobbers in the trash. Take fishing line to a local business that offers recycling, or cut it into 6-inch pieces before putting it in the garbage.

38

Aquatic Invaders

What are they?Aquatic invaders are plants and animals that are not originally from DuPage County but that have moved in and taken habitataway from native species. Because they are not from this area, they do not have natural predators or pests, which makes themdifficult to eliminate.

Who are they?Zebra mussels HITCHHIKER

• Free-swimming larvae invisible tothe naked eye

• Latch on to boats, bait buckets,tackle, anything that gets wet andstays wet

Rusty crayfish HITCHHIKER

• Rust-colored spots on sides

• Bigger, more aggressive than native crayfish

Curly leaf pondweed HITCHHIKER

• Wavy leaves with fine-tooth edges

• Grows 1 to 3 feet tall

• Forms dense mats

Eurasian water milfoil HITCHHIKER

• Long, feathery, stringy stems

• Grows up to 20 feet tall

• Forms dense mats

These are just a few of DuPageCounty’s aquatic invaders. Visitdupageforest.org and click on “Plants,Animals and Habitats” for more.

What’s the problem?They’re hitchhikers.

• Many aquatic invasives “hitchhike”from one body of water toanother on watercraft, bait bucketsand other recreational gear.Others arrive when people illegallyempty bait buckets or aquariumsinto lakes and waterways.

They’re bullies.

• Zebra mussels can suffocateindividual native freshwater musselsand can eliminate an entire speciesfrom a body of water.

• Rusty crayfish hog habitat, forcingnative crayfish to move away.

• Decomposing curly leaf pondweedand milfoil suck oxygen from thewater, which means less oxygenfor aquatic animals.

They reproduce like crazy.

• One female zebra mussel can layup to 1,000,000 eggs in onebreeding season.

• One 2-inch piece of water milfoilcan start an entire new colony.

• Curly leaf pondweed can startgrowing under the ice.

They’ve got big appetites.

• Rusty crayfish eat twice as manyplants and animals as native crayfish.

• A 1-inch-long zebra mussel canfilter specific microscopic plantsand animals from one quart ofwater in one day.

They’re costly.

• Masses of zebra mussels clogmunicipal water-intake pipes.

• Pondweed and milfoil form densemats, which limit water access andchoke propellers.

• It costs up to $138 billion per yearnationally to control and clean upafter terrestrial and aquatic invasivespecies — more than all othernatural disasters combined.

What can we do?In some cases, once an invasive aquaticspecies has found a new home, it’simpossible to evict it.

The best way to fight invasives isto make sure we don’t bring theminto new waters in the first place.

Check out the back page for ways todo just that!

Zebra mussel Rusty crayfish

USGS Archive, bugwood.org

Curly leaf pondweed Eurasian water milfoil

Alison Fox, University of Florida, bugwood.orgChris Evans, River to River CWMA, bugwood.org


Bluegill

Common Carp

Black Crappie

Grass Carp

Walleye

Yellow Perch

Muskie

Black Bullhead

Channel Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Green Sunfish

Largemouth Bass

Northern Pike

Rainbow Trout

Smallmouth Bass

Yellow Bullhead

Graphics courtesy of the Illinois Departmentof Natural Resources Division of Fisheries.

Common Fish of DuPage County

PROTECT YOURPROTECT YOUR

(630) 933-7200dupageforest.org

• • DRAIN AND REMOVEDRAIN AND REMOVE all water, mud, plants and animals from all equipment before leaving the shore.

• • DON’T DUMP BAIT!DON’T DUMP BAIT! Dispose of bait and bait water in the trash or on the ground far from shore.

• • WASH AND DRYWASH AND DRY anything that comes in contact with the water — boats, trailers, tackle, clothes, pets. Use hot water over 104° or a power washer. If possible, LET IT LET IT DRYDRY for five days.

• • NEVER PUT PLANTS NEVER PUT PLANTS OR ANIMALSOR ANIMALS in a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.

Help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Clean ALLALL recreational equipment.

DON’T DUMP BAIT

4/13 25M

forest preserve district ofdupage county - daily … pond white pine pond 15 cricket creek green...

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