REGION 2 KIDS FISHING HOTSPOTS
District 9
Big Lake & Beaver Lake
Location - Kendall County - approximately 5 miles west of Yorkville on
Fox Road. Take Fox Street west off Route 47 in Yorkville to Silver Springs
State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Description - Both of these are old gravel pits with Big Lake the larger of the two at 22.0 acres (Beaver Lake is 4.5 acres). Maximum depths are similar at just over 20 feet. The majority of the shoreline of both of these ponds is accessible to shore anglers.
Recreational Uses - Fishing, boating, hiking trails. Big Lake has a gravel boat ramp and rental boats are available at the on-site concession stand. Electric trolling motors only.
Fish Species Available - Both lakes contain populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie and channel catfish. Catchable-size rainbow trout are stocked into Big Lake in the spring and fall.
Angler Success - Once the water warms, bluegills bite readily in both ponds. Crappie are somewhat easier to catch in the late spring as the move into near-shore areas. Channel catfish are present in both ponds and become easier to catch during the warm summer months. Largemouth bass are more difficult to catch due to the high water clarity. Better success for this species is usually enjoyed on overcast and/or windy days.
Harris Forest Preserve Pond
Location - Kendall County - south of Yorkville just off Route 71 west
of the intersection of Route 71 and Route 47. Owned by the Kendall County
Forest Preserve District.
Description - 3.4 acres with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Most of the shoreline is accessible.
Recreational Uses - Fishing, picnicking. Bank fishing only.
Fish Species Available - Good populations of largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.
Angler Success - Consistent bluegill action can be expected as the water warms in the spring with many fish available in the 6- to 7-inch category. Bass fishing is also good, especially for young fish under 12 inches.
Illinois & Michigan (I&M) Canal
- Aux Sable Lock
Location - Grundy County - 5 miles west of Morris on Cemetery Road.
Description - The Aux Sable lock area of the I&M Canal, this pool is approximately 50 yards long by 30 yards wide. Maximum depth is 8 feet. Bank fishing is available from either shore.
Recreational Uses - Fishing, canoeing, electric trolling motors only.
Fish species available - Largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, white crappie, carp, bullhead and channel catfish.
Angler Success - Crappie fishing is fair in the early spring while sunfish (bluegills and green sunfish) will generally bite all summer long. Channel catfish action picks up during the summer months. Carp, while not large, are very common with fish up to 3 pounds caught with regularity. Either species of bass can be caught from areas just off the current provided by the tailrace. This is one area where you never really know what you might catch!
Gebhard Woods Ponds
Location - Grundy County - located in the city of Morris off Ottawa Street
at the Gebhard Woods Access, Illinois and Michigan Canal.
Description - Three separate ponds of approximately one acre each in size with maximum depths of 10 feet. Most of the shoreline is accessible at each pond.
Recreational Uses - Fishing, hiking trails, picnicking. Bank fishing only.
Fish species available - Largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish. Each pond receives catchable rainbow trout in the spring and all ponds receive annual stockings of channel catfish. Carp are present in each pond, but more prevalent in the eastern-most pond.
Angler Success - Bluegills can be readily caught from each pond from June through August at a rate of 25 fish per hour. Channel catfish become easier to catch as they become increasingly active in warmer water temperatures.
Lake Milliken
Location - Will County - located just off the I-55 Wilmington exit within
the Des Plaines Conservation Area.
Description - 26 acres with a maximum depth of 9 feet. The north and west shores are accessible to bank fishing.
Recreational Uses - Fishing, picnicking. Bank fishing only.
Fish species available - Largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, channel
catfish. Rainbow trout are stocked in the spring, with northern pike and
channel catfish released later in the year.
Angler success - Bluegill fishing is consistent from late spring through the summer months and can be caught at the rate of 20 per hour. Crappies can be caught in the spring of the year.
Illinois & Michigan (I&M)
Canal - Lock 14
Location - LaSalle County - in the city of Peru, just off Route 251.
Description - The Lock 14 area of the I&M Canal, the best part of this pool is approximately one mile long by 30 yards wide (which runs from the lock itself to the Little Vermilion River aqueduct). Maximum depth is 8 feet. Bank fishing is available primarily from the tow path which parallels the south bank of the canal.
Recreational Uses - Fishing, canoeing, electric trolling motors only.
Fish species available - Largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, white crappie, carp, bullhead and channel catfish.
Angler Success - An abundance of panfish species almost insures fast action for these fish and they can be caught with much regularity. Common carp are fairly abundant with some fish present in excess of 15 pounds. These fish are more prevalent at the east end of the pool nearer the aqueduct.
