Illinois Inland Waters

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2003 Announcement on the closing of LaSalle, Heidecke, and Braidwood Lakes
All of the lakes are scheduled to be closed for fishing on Wednesday October 1st, 2003.

Mazonia - Braidwood State Fish & Wildlife Area - 815/237-0063

LaSalle Lake (Illini State Park) - 815/795-2448

Heidecke Lake (Goose Lake Prairie Natural Area) - 815/942-2899

Location:
Braidwood Lake Fish and Wildlife Area consists of 2,640 acres and is located in Will County south of Braidwood off Illinois Route 53.

What the Illinois DNR has to say about Braidwood:
HISTORY
Braidwood Lake, owned by Commonwealth Edison (Com Ed), is a partially perched, cooling lake. When impounded in 1981 several old strip mine pits were flooded within the lake proper. Braidwood Lake was constructed in the late 1970s and impounded with water pumped from the Kankakee River in 1980-81.

Fisheries management activities were initiated in 1978 involving the strip mine lakes and dry lake basin. It was considered a semi-private area used by employees of Com Ed till the fall of 1981 when the Department of Conservation (now the Department of Natural Resources) acquired a long term lease agreement from Com Ed which allowed for general public access. Braidwood Lake is currently used for fishing, waterfowl hunting, fossil hunting by permit, and as a waterfowl refuge.

EXISTING RESOURCES
The water area currently contains channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, white bass, hybrid bass, walleye, sauger, pure and tiger muskie plus a variety of other species of fish.

BOATING
Braidwood Lake can become very dangerous. Special precautions should be utilized. A wind warning system is in place by a flagpole located at the Cemetery Boat Ramp and the Kankakee Boat Ramp. The flag system displays predicted weather conditions for that day. Different colored flags will be raised to depict the weather conditions. The lake will be closed with 25 m.p.h. winds.

Boats with a minimum length of 14’ are recommended. Motor size is unlimited but a 40 m.p.h. speed limit is strictly enforced.

Opportunities for fishing have dramatically improved since the construction of the lake. Stocking and habitat improvement programs are in place to increase fish populations and provide a diversity of species. Carlyle Lake fishing prospects include white bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp, flathead catfish, and walleye.

2002 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs Fishing Prospects

Largemouth bass – good – The average legal-sized bass will be 2.3 lbs, with most being 1½ to 4 lbs.

Sauger – fair – The average size of legal sauger will be 2.2 lbs, with fish to 4 lbs present.

Crappie – poor – Numbers are very low. Average Spring legal crappie will be 11" - 0.7 lb, most 10" - 0.6 lb to 12.5" - 1.1 lbs. Expect fishing to improve somewhat by Fall as 8 to 9" crappie grow to legal size.

White bass – excellent – Numbers are improved over last year Large numbers of ? to 1 lb fish are present with some to 2.3 lbs. Expect average to be 11.5" - 0.7 lb.

Catfish – good – There is an abundance of 2 to 5 lbs channel catfish (average 3.6 lbs). Flathead catfish 5 to 10 lbs dominated in the last survey.

Bluegill -- fair to good -- Most keepers will be 6-8" fish, averaging ¼ lb.

Prepared by Harry L. Wight
Reservoirs Program Administrator
December 20, 2001

The Fox Chain of Lakes is located about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, and covers over 6,500 acres. The chain is the largest inland water recreation area in northern Illinois, and is used by over 60,000 people during summer weekends.

Directions to State Park: If your taking the Illinois Toll way, exit at Illinois 173 (Rosecrans Road), and head west. Turn left at Wilmot road and watch for signs for the State Park. The State Park is located on Grass lake, Grass Lake is a shallow lake and most power boats will want to be sure to follow navigation buoys. Public access to shore fishing is limited on most lakes, but is available at the State Park.

Location:
Just north of Grass Lake Road. Best access roads are east on Echo Rd. or Bluff Dr.
Bluff Lake is the smallest of the main lakes of the chain. It is connected by channel to
Petite Lake to the South, and Lake Marie to the North.
Type of Fish:
Yellow Bass
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Channel Catfish
Carp
Yellow Perch
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Walleye
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
Just north of Route 173. From 173, taking Addison Lane North brings you along the Eastern
Shoreline.
Lake Catherine is one of the two northernmost lakes of the chain, connected to Channel Lake
to the West. Lake Catherine was once separated from Channel Lake, but according to the
IDNR, the gravel bar that separated the two eventually eroded away.
Type of Fish:
Yellow Bass
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Channel Catfish
Carp
Yellow Perch
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Walleye
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
North of Route 173. Access is possible from Lake Ave. to the West,
Spring Grove Rd. to the South, or near the bridge that goes over the
channel to Lake Marie.
Type of Fish:
Channel Catfish
Yellow Bass
Carp
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
White Crappie
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Walleye
Muskellunge
Orange Spot Sunfish
Northern Pike
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
Between Grass Lake Road and Grand/Route 59.
Fox Lake is the largest of the chain, and actually includes what is commonly referred to as
Nippersink Lake.
Type of Fish:
Channel Catfish
Yellow Bass
Carp
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
White Crappie
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Walleye
Orange Spot Sunfish
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
Three miles East of Spring Grove Rd., on Grass Lake Road.
The Fox River enters the chain through the West shoreline of Grass Lake,
which is also the shallowest of all the lakes in the chain with an average
depth of just 4 ft.
Type of Fish:
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Channel Catfish
White Bass
Yellow Bass
Bullhead Catfish
Carp
Boat Info:
Extremely shallow. Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
South of Rt. 173, between Bluff Lake and Channel Lake.
Lake Marie is the deepest and clearest of all lakes in the chain. Sequoit Creek,
which is located in the Northeast corner, is known for being the spring spawning
ground for Northern Pike.
Type of Fish:
Channel Catfish
Yellow Bass
Carp
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
White Crappie
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Walleye
Orange Spot Sunfish
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
Between Grass Lake Road and Route 12.
Nippersink Lake is actually a bay on the West end of Fox Lake, and is the main
channel between Grass Lake to the North, and Pistakee to the South. Significant
because it continues the flow of the Fox River, which enters through Grass and
flows out of Pistakee.
Type of Fish:
Channel Catfish
Yellow Bass
Carp
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
White Crappie
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Walleye
Orange Spot Sunfish
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
East of Grass Lake Road, and East of Rt. 59.
Petite Lake is one of the smallest in the chain, and is connected by channels
to Bluff Lake to the North, and Fox Lake to the South.
Type of Fish:
Yellow Bass
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Channel Catfish
Carp
Yellow Perch
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Walleye
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
North of Route 134, and West of Route 12.
Pistakee Lake is the Southern most and second largest of the chain, and is
connected to Nippersink to the North. It is also the lake that flows back into
the Fox River.
Type of Fish:
Channel Catfish
Yellow Bass
Yellow Perch
Carp
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
White Crappie
Black Bullhead
Orange Spotted Sunfish
Walleye
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Small mouth Bass
Boat Info:
Powerboats, Sailboats, Canoes, Rowboats allowed.
Canoe and rowboat rental available during the summer months.
2 ramps with concrete to water level and below at the State Park.

Location:
State Fish and Wildlife Area is located west of I-55 and south of the Illinois River on Pine Bluff/Lorenzo Road. This lake is used as a cooling lake for the Collins Station Power Plant.
Type of Fish:
Walleye
Muskellunge
Tiger Muskie
Yellow Bass
White Bass
Striped Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass
Largemouth Bass
Small mouth Bass
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Bullhead Catfish
Channel Catfish
Freshwater Drum
Carp
Boat Info:
Gas powered motor boats permitted. Unsafe for non-motorized boats due to high winds.
For more info, contact the State Park at 1-815-942-6352.

Fishing Areas North of Peoria	Fishing Areas South of Peoria
Dresden Dam	Turkey Island
Marseilles Dam	Coon Hollow Island
Fox River	Spring Lake
Covel Creek	Meyer's Ditch
Sheehan Island	Spoon River
Starved Rock Dam	Bath Chute
Vermilion River	Anderson Lake
Hennepin	Snicarte Slough
Twin Sisters Island	Chain Lake
Old Henry Lock	Basch Slough
Henry Island	Meyers Bay
Lacon Harbor	Bar-Grape Island
East River	LaMoine River
Woodford Conservation Area	LaGrange Dam
Peoria Lake	Meredosia Lake
Peoria Narrows	Naples
Peoria Dam	Big Blue Island
	East Pearl
	Pohlman Slough
	Hurricane Island
	Dark Chute
	Hembold Island
	Twelve Mile Island
	Fowler Lake
	Flat Lake
	Stump Lake
	Long Lake
	Swan Lake

Access Areas North of Peoria	Access Areas South of Peoria
Dresden Dam	Bartonville
Wm. G. Stratton Access Area	Pekin
Illini State Park	Kingston Lodge
Allen Park	Spring Lake
Starved Rock	Goofy Ridge
Peru	Liverpool
Spring Valley	Havana
Depue	Bath
Hennepin	Anderson Lake
Henry	Sanganois
Lacon	Beardstown
Chillicothe	LaGrange Dam
Woodford	Meredosia Lake
Detweiler Park	Meredosia
Peoria Lock	Naples
	Florence
	Pearl
	Godar-Diamond
	Glades
	Hadley Lodge
	Long Lake
	Pere Marquette
	Swan Lake
	Pohlman Slough
	Grafton

Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities. Popular game species include catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass, and bluegill. The Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the local Department of Natural Resources District Fish Biologist, currently manage 16 farm ponds to maintain sizeable populations. The ponds range in size from less than an acre to 27 acres, most are easily accessible by foot.

2002 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs Fishing Prospects

Largemouth bass -- good -- The average legal-sized bass is 2.6 lbs. with most legal fish being 1.3 to 3.5 lbs. Bass to 4.8 lbs were taken in the 2001 fall population survey.

Muskellunge -- good to excellent -- Judging by the reports of last year and the recent stocking history, a good to excellent fishery is forecast.

Walleye -- good -- The average legal-sized walleye will be 3.4 lbs, with most legal fish being 0.8 to 4.5 lbs.

Crappie -- fair -- Abundance appears to be only half of that in recent years, although a strong yearclass was produced in 2001. The mean size of legal fish will be 11" - 0.7 lbs with most legal fish being 10" - 0.5 lb to 12" - 1 lb.

White bass -- fair to good -- The population appears to be improved over last year. Most whites will be 0.3 to 1 lb. Average size 11" - 0.6 lb.

Catfish -- fair -- Channel catfish 0.7 to 10.5 lbs were collected during the latest survey. Too few flathead catfish were sampled to make an estimate of mean size. Flatheads in excess of 70 lbs have been caught in the lake.

Bluegill -- fair to good -- Most keepers will be 6-8" fish, averaging ¼ lb. There are some good sized bluegill in the upper Kaskaskia arm.

Prepared by Harry L. Wight
Reservoirs Program Administrator
December 20, 2001

Boat Rentals

Lithia Springs Marina
RR4, Box 103A
(3 Miles East of Shelbyville on Route 16,
Turn North and follow the signs)
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(800) 447-4121

Findlay Marina
RR1, Box 136
Findlay, IL 62534
(217) 756-8595

Sullivan Marina & Campground
RR3, Box 289
Sullivan, IL 61951
(217) 728-7338

Location:
State Fish and Wildlife Area is located south of I-80 and west of Illinois Route 170 (Near Seneca) This lake is used as a cooling lake for the LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant.
Type of Fish:
Walleye
Muskellunge
Tiger Muskie
Yellow Bass
White Bass
Striped Bass
Hybrid Striped Bass
Largemouth Bass
Small mouth Bass
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Bullhead Catfish
Channel Catfish
Freshwater Drum
Carp
Boat Info:
Gas powered motor boats permitted. Unsafe for non-motorized boats due to high winds.
For more info, contact the State Park at 1-815-942-6352.

Location:
3 miles southwest of Braidwood on Illinois Route 53 and Huston Road.

What the Illinois DNR has to say about Mazonia:

Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area consists of 1,017 acres and is located in Grundy County 3 miles southwest of Braidwood on Illinois Route 53 and Huston Road.

HISTORY
Mazonia was purchased in 1986 from Commonwealth Edison under the Wildlife Habitat Acquisition and Development Program. Peabody Coal Company surface-mined the area from 1951 through 1970, and the name Mazonia comes from the EJE Railroad switching yard across from the site on Route 53. The reclaimed strip-mine is now under the supervision of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

EXISTING RESOURCES
The area contains 200 water impoundments ranging from 3/4 acre to 30 acres. The water area currently contains largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, green ear sunfish, crappie, channel catfish and bullhead. Additional species will be stocked as the site is developed. Good wildlife habitat can be found on the site in the 700 acres of grassland, brushy draws and shrubs and limited woodland cover.

AREA OBJECTIVES
Mazonia is managed primarily for sport fish and waterfowl. Specifically, its purpose is to provide a quality sport fishery within the strip-mine lakes via resource management techniques. Those techniques include habitat enhancement and supplemental stockings which, in turn, will provide the public a quality bank and boat sport fishing opportunity. It is also intended that the site will provide quality midmigration and resident waterfowl habitat, including food, water and sanctuary components which, in turn, will provide the public a quality waterfowl hunting opportunity.

Secondarily, the area will be managed for other resident or migratory game and non-game fish and wildlife species, including those listed as threatened or endangered.

Although Mazonia will feature sport fishing and waterfowl hunting, a variety of other consumptive and non-consumptive outdoor recreational opportunities will be provided throughout the year. Upland game hunting, furbearer trapping, limited picnicking, nature study/birding, fossil hunting, and water dog training will also be provided.

FACILITIES
Minimal facilities are now available. Future development will include an access road to all the main lakes, boat launches, ramps, parking lots and toilets.

HUNTING AND FISHING
Fishing and hunting will be permitted on a seasonal basis and are subject to various site regulations. Fishing will close 2 weeks prior to the Central Waterfowl Zone season and reopen at the conclusion of the Upland Game season-January 1st or as the ice becomes safe.

Location:
The lake is within the Des Plaines Wildlife Conservation area along the Kankakee River, about a mile or less east of I-55 at exit 241.
Type of Fish:
Bluegill
Catfish
Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Trout - (Seasonal)
Boat Info:
Not allowed

Paddle boat, Canoe and Row Boat Rental w/trolling motor available. No Gas motors allowed, no private boats allowed.
Bait and snacks are available at the concession stand.

The Franklin County Tourism Bureau's description of Rend Lake
http://www.fctb.com

Rend Lake is the second largest man made lake in the state of Illinois, consisting of 19,000 acres of water with 162 miles of shoreline. There are six major recreation areas featuring campgrounds, beaches, picnic, and public wildlife areas. The lake has several boat ramps and a full service marina.
Rend Lake anglers will find perhaps the finest crappie fishing in Illinois, as well as abundant populations of largemouth bass, white bass, bluegill, and a variety of catfish.

2002 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs Fishing Prospects

Largemouth bass – good – There are many sub-legal 9-13" bass in the population. The average legal-sized bass will weigh 2.3 lbs; most will be 1.4 to 2.9 lbs.

Crappie – good – The Spring fishery will be dominated by 10" - 0.5 lb white crappies, larger than last Spring. Most Spring keepers will be 8 to 11", although some 12.5" - 1 lb crappie are present. A new creel/size limit will take effect on April 1, 2002. The daily creel limit will be 25 white crappie, black crappie, and hybrid crappie (singly or in the aggregate) of which no more than 5 may be 10" or longer.

White bass – good – The 2001 fall surveys showed continued improvement in abundance. The daily creel limit for white bass, yellow bass, and hybrid striped bass will be remain at 20 (singly or in the aggregate). The limit of 3 - 17" or larger will remain in effect. Most whites will be 0.4 - 1.4 lbs; average 0.7 lb.

Hybrid striped bass – fair – The younger yearclasses are grouped as follows: 12" - 0.7 lb and 15" - 1.5 lbs. The largest hybrid taken in the latest survey was 7.4 lbs.

Catfish – excellent – The average channel catfish will be about 1.7 lbs; most 0.8 to 3 lbs. Limited data suggests most flathead catfish will be 1 to 22 lbs. Jugs must be attended.

Bluegill -- fair to good -- Most keepers will be 6-8" fish, averaging ¼ lb.

Prepared by Harry L. Wight
Reservoirs Program Administrator
December 20, 2001

Location:
State Recreation area is located off Rt 30, just south of the town of Shabbona (SE of the the I-88, I-39 Junction).
Type of Fish:
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Channel Catfish
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Walleye
Muskellunge
Boat Info:
Private boats permitted.
Max 10 Hp in main section of lake.
Electric Motors only section in upper western section of lake.
For more info, contact the State Park at 1-815-942-6352.

Location:
East of Avenue O/Burnham Avenue, between 120th and 134th streets on the Illinois and Indiana Border.
Type of Fish:
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Bluegill
Sunfish
Crappie
Bullhead Catfish
Carp
Yellow Perch
Boat Info:
Private boats permitted. (10 hp limit for Gas motors)
Rental boats available.
For more information, contact the Park at 1-773-646-3270.

*Fox Chain	Braidwood	Chicago River	Carlyle Lake
*Bluff Lake	Heidecke	Illinois River	Kankakee River
*Lake Catherine	Lake Shelbyville	LaSalle	Mazonia
*Channel Lake	Milliken Lake	Monee Reservoir	Rend Lake
*Fox Lake	Shabbona	Wolf Lake
*Grass Lake
*Lake Marie
*Nippersink Lake
*Petite Lake
*Pistakee Lake

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