PIERCE LAKE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
Pierce Lake is a 162 acre impoundment constructed in 1960. The lake is situated in Rock Cut State Park, a 3,092 acre park northeast of Rockford.
Pierce Lake has been stocked annually with put-grow-and-take channel catfish since 1985. Good numbers of channel catfish of several year classes are available for catfish fishermen. A 2003 creel census showed that 28.3 pounds of channel catfish per acre are harvested at Pierce Lake annually. Average size of catfish in the creel is 14-15 inches in length and weighs 1.2 pounds.
Because of heavy fishing pressure, many channel catfish are removed each year. A total of 530 man hours of fishing pressure is expended per acre per year on Pierce Lake.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: PIERCE LAKE - This 162 acre lake was constructed in 1960 by damming Willow Creek, a tributary of the Rock River. The lake was completely drained in 1970 due to a rupture in the drain valve. The lake was restocked in 1971 and from then to 1986, the lake had a strong bass population. Fall electro-fishing catch rates averaged 145 bass per hour over this period. Surveys from 1987 to 1992 documented a serious decline in the catch rate of bass to an average of 31 per hour with 19 of these being young-of-the-year. In 2007, the collection rate was 96 fish per hour with 42 of these fish being young of the year.
A lake creel survey conducted in 2003, indicated that the bass harvest was 18.5 fish per acre. The catch-and-release of bass also indicated improvement with 56 bass per acre reported caught at 55.8 pounds per acre. A wonderful catchable population now occurs at Pierce Lake.
A supplemental stocking of fingerling largemouth and smallmouth bass was made in 1993. Fall electro-fishing surveys from 1994 to the present have determined that the lake’s bass fishery has shown a great recovery. An upward trend continued in 2002 with 173 bass per hour collected with 44 per hour 8" or larger. Of these 8" plus bass, 55% were greater than 12". In 2007, the improvement in the fishery continues. One of the factors in improved largemouth bass populations is the abundance of shoreline aquatic vegetation coverage.
Pierce Lake participated in a statewide bluegill study which is now completed. With the improving largemouth bass population, bluegill are showing marked growth and condition improvements.
MUSKIE: PIERCE LAKE - This 162 acre lake was built in 1960. It was completely drained in 1970 due to a defective valve. The lake’s predators in addition to muskie include largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye are stocked supplementally each year. Among the many prey species are gizzard shad, brook silversides, white suckers, and carp.
A muskie stocking program was begun in 1983, and to 1989 - 1,274 large fingerling muskie (11") were stocked from the Carlton Silt Basin, state hatcheries, and Muskie, Inc.
An Illinois Natural History Survey study was begun in 2005 to determine the comparative survivability of stocked fingerling fish. Three different genetic stocks of muskie are introduced annually.
The lake is now part of a statewide muskie genetic survival study and will continue to receive generous stocks of muskie from strains throughout the country.
WALLEYE AND SAUGER: Pierce Lake is a 162 acre impoundment in the 3,092 acre Rock Cut State Park located northeast of Rockford. The lake was built in 1960. Walleye are stocked annually at Pierce Lake. Between 10,000 and 20,000 2 inch walleye fingerlings are stocked at Peirce Lake each year. In 2006, 15,075 fish and in 2007, 9,900 fish were stocked. As a result of stocking and an excellent shad forage base, a tremendous population of catchable walleye has evolved. A 2003 creel census showed 42 walleye caught per acre with a 57.5 lb. per acre harvest. Best fishing is along the gravel points along the dam.
