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Home , Catch and release, Des Plaines River, Des Plaines River Trail, Fishing, Fishing (sculpture), Lake

Fishing Guide Guide Contents

General Fishing Information ...... 4 Basic Fishing Knots ...... 6 Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve Buffalo Creek ...... 7 Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve Wright Woods ...... 8 Your Lake County Forest Preserves Des Plaines Greenway ...... 9 Fox River Forest Preserve Fox River ...... 10 Grant Woods Forest Preserve Rubber Duck Pond ...... 11 Greenbelt Forest Preserve Dugdale Lake ...... 12 Pulaski Lake ...... 13 Half Day Forest Preserve Half Day Pond ...... 14 Hastings Lake Forest Preserve Hastings Lake ...... 15 Independence Grove Forest Preserve The Lake at Independence Grove ...... 16 Lake Carina Forest Preserve Lake Carina ...... 18 Lakewood Forest Preserve Banana Lake ...... 19 Taylor Lake ...... 19 Lake ...... 20 Acorn Pond ...... 20 Heron Pond ...... 21 Nippersink Forest Preserve Nippersink ...... 22 Old School Forest Preserve Old School Lake ...... 23 Raven Glen Forest Preserve Timber Lake ...... 24 Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve Sterling Lake ...... 25 Wadsworth Road Launch Des Plaines Lake ...... 26 3 Origins Fishing Lake County owes its abundance of lakes to the last ice age when the shelters must be removed at the end of each day, only two poles are advanced and retreated across the some 16,000 to 18,000 years allowed, and holes must be drilled six inches or smaller. A uniform 4.5-inch layer ago. gouged and carved the landscape, and large masses of ice left behind of ice is required. Ice fishing is permitted in the south at Independence Grove, created depressions that form some of our present day lakes. In addition, some on Banana Lake at Lakewood, and on Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods. For the lakes and in the preserves are man-made, former quarries or borrow pits, latest ice conditions, call the Winter Sports Hotline at 847-968-3235 or check our or dammed . website at www.LCFPD.org.

Licenses Cast No Trash All anglers over the age of 16 must have a valid . Anglers Please deposit all litter, including , in trash receptacles. Most sites offer fishing for in Banana Lake at Lakewood Forest Preserve must also recycling and fishing line collection tubes. Forest Preserve staff has seen birds have an inland trout stamp. Fees from these licenses provide funds to manage and other entangled in old fishing line. Please help us avoid this. and stock many of these lakes and ponds annually. Purchase them at Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, many sporting Wheelchair Access goods stores, or online at www.DNR.state.il.us. Many forest preserves offer wheelchair access for fishing. See individual preserve maps on the following pages for details. Bait Live bait is permitted. However, seining or trapping Fishing in your Lake County Forest Preserves baitfish, or other aquatic organisms is not The Lake County Forest Preserve District works with the Illinois Department of permitted in any Forest Preserve waterway. Please do not Natural Resources (IDNR) to manage a number of lakes and ponds that provide release unused lived bait into Forest Preserve waterways where non- quality fishing. native will cause problems for existing populations. Worms and tackle are sold only at Independence Grove. State of Illinois fishing regulations, including site specific regulations, apply at all sites in addition to the following limits. Additional information is available online Catch-and-Release—tips for proper technique at www.DNR.state.il.us/fish. Catch-and-release fishing is an important part of maintaining good populations and is mandatory at Independence Grove and Nippersink Species Minimum Length Limit Forest Preserves. At the other preserves, we highly encourage you /sunfish n/a n/a to release or other predator fish. These predator fish help to Channel n/a n/a keep populations in balance. n/a n/a n/a 6 per day • a fish as soon as possible. Exhausting a fish lowers its chance of 36 inches 1 per day survival. 24 inches 3 per day • When possible, do not use a net. Nets remove a fish’s protective slime. 10 inches 5 per day • Always wet hands before handling fish. This protects the protective slime. • Use barbless hooks for easier hook removal. n/a 3 per day • Keep fish in the water while removing the hook. 14 inches 6 per day • Handle toothless fish by gripping the lower jaw. • Handle fish with teeth behind the gill covers. Note: Only line fishing is allowed in Forest Preserve waterways. Anglers may use a • Never grab a fish directly on the gill covers. maximum of two poles. Independence Grove and Nippersink Forest Preserves have a • Never grip a fish around the abdomen. mandatory catch-and-release fishing program. This program makes it recreational for • Never grip a fish by depressing the eyes. anglers and beneficial for . Anglers are encouraged to use barbless, non-stainless • If a fish swallows the hook do not attempt to remove it. Cut the line as close to steel hooks at all forest preserves. See page 4 for proper technique. the hook as possible and return the fish to the water. • Gently place the fish in the water upon release; never throw a fish back.

Boat Rentals Site Map Legend Fishing are available for rent at Independence Grove. is not permitted at other lakes and ponds except for Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods (see page 25). tubes, belly boats and wading are not permitted. N

Hours Drinking Water North Phone Fishing hours at most preserves are 6:30 a.m. to sunset. At the Independence Grove Marina, daily service runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Weekend service runs mid-April through Memorial Day and again Labor Day until mid-October. Marina hours are 6:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset. Call Ranger Station Restrooms Wheelchair Access 847-968-3499 or visit www.IndependenceGrove.org for further information. 4 5 Basic Fishing Knots Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve

Use fishing knots to properly tie your line to your hook, lure and other tackle. The Buffalo Creek Reservoir knots below are those most commonly used by anglers. Each knot has a specific purpose. When creating your knot, consider the following: 34 acres • The “tag end” (a.k.a. “working end”) is the end of the line used to tie the knot. max depth: 7 feet • The “standing end” is the line that comes from your reel. • Leave about 12 inches of the “tag end” of line to tie knots properly. Designed and built as a control reservoir in 1986, the lake is not managed or • You want the strongest knot possible to avoid losing fish. stocked for fishing. Careful and creative design of the reservoir has created a • Simple overhand knots actually weaken your line. natural-looking . • Practice tying until you can create each knot easily and correctly. • Use saliva to wet knots as you pull them tight. This prevents damage to the line, helps pull the knot tight and prevents it from slipping. Directions • Once tied, trim knots closely. A good, tight knot will not come loose, and close Located in Buffalo Grove on the southern of Lake County. At corner of 1 trimming prevents the knot from catching snags or weeds. Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights Roads, go north on Arlington Heights Road ⁄2 • Do not burn the tag end. Heat damages the line and knot. mile to Checker Road. Turn west on Checker Road to preserve entrance. From parking lot, take the west. Improved Clinch Knot - Used to tie fishing line to a hook or lure for lines up to 20-pound test. The secret is making five turns of the tag end around the standing end before putting the tag end back through the formed loop. The final tuck of the line back through the loop makes this knot very strong.

Step 1 Step 2

bluegill/sunfish largemouth bass northern pike Palomar Knot - Used to tie fishing line to a hook or lure for lines up to and over 20-pound test. This takes more line to tie and can tangle because it is doubled first, but it is a favorite of many anglers because it is easy and can be tied in the dark.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

CHECKER ROAD

PARKING Non-Slip Loop Knot - Used with larger lines where a tight knot can affect the hook or lure movement. This knot creates a fixed loop so the hook can move freely. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 TRAIL

N TRAIL Blood Knot - Used to join two lines of similar diameter. The secret is making five DEEPEST WATER turns of line with each tag end around the overlapped standing end. : Make one 7 ft series of turns, tuck the tag end between the two lines and repeat with second line. TRAIL

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS ROAD ARLINGTON Step 1 Step 2

SCALE 0 50 200 FEET Arbor Knot - Used to attach line to your reel. This knot does not need to be strong. Run line around the spool, make overhand knot around standing line, clip and pull. LAKE-COOK ROAD Step 1 Step 2

6 7 Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve Greenway

Wright Woods Pond While not stocked or managed for fishing, the Des Plaines River contains many species and is a great spot for anglers. Parking and access to the river’s edge is 3 acres available at five Forest Preserve canoe launches: max depth: 12 feet • Van Patten Woods Canoe Launch on Russell Road, east of Route 41 This man-made pond was created in 1964. An outlet at the south end flows into the • Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch, east of Route 41 Des Plaines River. In 1992 the pond was reshaped and deepened. It was then • Independence Grove Canoe Launch in preserve, near North Bay Pavilion restocked with largemouth bass, bluegill and . • Oak Road Canoe Launch, west of St. ’s Road Directions • Route 60 Canoe Launch, east of Avenue (Route 21) Located in Lincolnshire in southeastern Lake County. At the corner of St. Mary’s Road and Route 60, go south on St. Mary’s Road for 1½ miles to preserve entrance. Note: River fishing is not allowed at Ryerson Conservation Area, MacArthur Woods Pond is within sight of parking lot. or Wadsworth .

RRussellussell RRdd Hu PINEPPINE Hunt Club Rd Canoe launchn n t

M DUNESDUNES C l ub 131131 R d

173 VAN PATTEN WOODS

TO DES PLAINES RIVER &

AND EVERETT ROADS

TO EXIT AND ST. MARY’S MARY’S EXIT ANDTO ST. 9494 41 THUNDETTHHUNDUNDE GOLFGOLGOLF CCL ETHEL’SETTHEL’’S WADSWORTH WOODSWOWOOOODS PRAIRIE 5 ft WadsworthWadsworth RRdd Canoe launch ONALDO LDD RESEARCH PROJECT Yorkhousee R ONNERER FAFARFARMARMRM WAUKEGANWAWWAUKEGAAAUKEGAAUUKEGUKKEEGGAGANAANN d Lake Rd SAVANNASAVANNSASAVAVANNAAVAAVAVAVVANAANNNNNNAA bluegill/sunfish Delaney Rd D GreenGre Bay Rd Green Bay Rd Le Lewis Ave e w l ane is

A y v R e

GrandGrand AvAvee d

PARKING 21 10 ft

5 ft S Kilbourne Rd 132132 12 ft NANA WWashingtonashington St

10 ft LAKE channel catfish BRAEBRARAEAE LOLOCHCH CARINA Belvidere Rd 5 ft daleal R GOLFGOLF CLUBCLCLULUB DugdaleDugdal R Almond Rd Al m o

10 ft n d R TRAIL d 43 ALMONDAALMALMOLMOMOONDND MARSHMAMMARARAARSRRSSHSH Casey Rd INDEPENDENCE GROVE 137137 NNERANERALERALERALRRAL OFFICES Buckley Rd crappie

Waukegan Rd 5 ft 4141 131131 TRAIL 45 Oak Spring Rd Canoe launch

176 OLD SCHOOL YSIDEYSSIDSIDE SCALE LAA UBUB 21 N 0 10 20 50 100 FEET largemouth bass St Marys Rd St Marys MIDDLEFOMIDDLEFOIDDLEFODDLEFLLEFO MACARTHUR SAVANNASAVANNSASAVAVAVVANANNNA WOODS 60 Canoe launch GRAINGER ADLAI E. STEVENSON WOODS HISTORIC HOME Everett Rd DAM 83 4545 WRIGHT HALF DAY WOODS northern pike Riverwoods Rd Riverwoods

bluegill/sunfish r

Arlington Hts Rd Arlington Hts RYERSON CONSERVATION on AREA DeerfieldDeerfield RR 83

Checkerhecker Rd 21 9494 N 8 crappie channel catfish largemouth bass 9 Fox River Preserve and Marina Grant Woods Forest Preserve Fox River Rubber Duck Pond

Fox River Preserve and Marina is open for shoreline fishing in designated areas 2 acres only. Fishing is not allowed in the marina and dock area, or from the launch. max depth: 12 feet The 169-slip marina offers 20, 25 and 30-foot slips, and includes a four-lane launch for boats and personal watercrafts. Indoor dry storage is also available. Larger slips Rubber Duck Pond was excavated in 1987. Turn this map on its side to see how the provide electric and water access. For more information, call 847-381-0669. pond got its name. Directions Located in the southwest corner of Lake County. The entrance and parking area Directions Located in Fox Lake in northwestern Lake County. At corner of Route 59 and are located on Roberts Road, west of Route 59. Monaville Road, go east on Monaville Road to preserve entrance. Pond is within sight of first parking lot.

TO ROUTE 59 MONAVILLE ROAD

bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish

N

largemouth bass northern pike smallmouth bass

4 ft

8 ft

12 ft CENTER STREET

TO ROUTE 176

walleye

8 ft ROBERTS ROAD

PARKING TO ROUTE 59 4 ft PARKING

4 ft 12 ft

PARKING 8 ft

PARKING

NO FISHING PARKING BOAT LAUNCH

YOUTH TRAIL CAMPGROUND TO PARKING FOX RIVER NO FISHING IN MARINA

SCALE

0 10 20 50 200 FEET

PARKING F OX

R IV E R

SCALE 0 1/8 1/4 MILE N

10 bluegill/sunfish channel catfish largemouth bass 11 Greenbelt Forest Preserve Greenbelt Forest Preserve Dugdale Lake Pulaski Lake

6 acres 6 acres max depth: 16 feet max depth: 15 feet

Built to its final shape in 1984, Dugdale Lake offers great shoreline fishing. Built as a borrow pit for the 14th Street overpass in 1976, occasional flooding of the adjacent Skokie River has allowed fish like and catfish access to Pulaski Lake. Directions Located in Waukegan in northeastern Lake County. At corner of Green Bay Road Directions (Route 131) and 14th Street, go east on 14th Street to Dugdale Road. Go north on Located in Waukegan in northeastern Lake County. At corner of Belvidere Road Dugdale to preserve entrance. From parking lot, take trail southwest. (Route 120) and Green Bay Road (Route 131), go south on Greenbay Road to preserve entrance. At first fork in preserve road stay left to reach parking lot. Take 1 trail west from parking lot about ⁄ 2 mile, staying left at fork in trail.

TO ROUTE 120

bluegill/sunfish channel catfish largemouth bass PARKING

TRAIL

N

GREENBAY ROAD (RT. 131)

CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY

PARKING

2 ft DEEPEST WATER 15 ft 10 ft TRAIL 16 ft

3 ft ROUTE 41 SCALE 16 ft N 0 50 100 200 FEET 10 ft

ROCK TRAIL 3 ft 14 ft 10 ft

14TH STREET

3 ft

10 ft 14 ft

16 ft

16 ft 10 ft 2ft

ROCK TRAIL SHOALS DUGDALE ROAD

TO 14TH ST. SCALE

0205010 100 FEET bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish largemouth bass

12 13 Half Day Forest Preserve Hastings Lake Forest Preserve Half Day Pond Hastings Lake

3 acres 74 acres max depth: 12 feet max depth: 25 feet

Named after the Potowatomi Chief Aptakisic, whose name means half day, this Hastings Lake features 12,000 feet of shoreline and many species for good fishing. pond was built in 1989. Directions Directions Located in northern Lake County, between Lindenhurst and Lake Villa. A parking Located in Vernon Hills in southeastern Lake County. At corner of Milwaukee area with trail access is located on Gelden Road, just west of Grass Lake Road. Avenue (Route 21) and Townline Road (Route 60), go south two miles on Milwaukee

Avenue to the preserve entrance. Follow signs to Shelter A parking lot. The pond GRASS LAKE ROAD is within sight of the parking lot. GELDEN ROAD

PARKING N

TRAIL bluegill/sunfish crappie

2 ft

7 ft

PARKING 12 ft channel catfish

2 ft

2 ft

7 ft

12 ft

2 ft 7 ft 7 ft 2 ft 12 ft ROUTE 21

DES PLAINESRIVER TRAIL

2 ft TRAIL

12 ft

PARKING 7 ft

2 ft largemouth bass

6 ft

TRAIL

25 ft

24 ft 22 ft 2 ft SCALE northern pike 20 ft 0 10 20 50 100 FEET

18 ft

16 ft

14 ft

12 ft 10 ft 8 ft 6 ft

4 ft

SCALE 2 ft bluegill/sunfish channel catfish largemouth bass 0 150 300 450 600 FEET N 14 15 Independence Grove Forest Preserve DES PLAINES CATCH RIVER TRAIL The Lake at Independence Grove AND RELEASE muskellunge 115 acres (not restocking) max depth: 49 feet

We’ve transformed a sterile gravel quarry with steep sides into a rich with gently graded slopes and underwater islands. There is good fishing here, especially northern pike for bass. Your luck will increase when you fish TRAIL from a boat, available for rent at the Marina. Bait, tackle, and concessions are also for sale. At the Marina, daily service runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Weekend service runs mid-April through Memorial Day TRAIL and again Labor Day until mid-October. Marina hours are 6:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset. Call 847-968-3499 or visit the website DEEPEST at www.IndependenceGrove.org for further WATER information. PARKING 45 - 50 ft TRAIL DEEPEST WATER Note: Catch-and-release fishing is mandatory. 20 - 35 ft

This program makes it recreational for anglers CANOE LAUNCH CANOE and beneficial for nature. Anglers are encouraged to use barbless, non-stainless steel hooks. See page 4 for proper techniques. Dogs, horses and other pets are not permitted here. A parking fee applies for non-residents. DEEPEST WATER Directions 20 - 30 ft Located in central Lake County near Libertyville. At corner of Buckley Road (Route 137) and Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21), go VISITORS CENTER east on Buckley Road to preserve entrance. Lake is within sight of parking lots. BEACH HOUSE

NO FISHING

MARINA, bluegill/sunfish crappie BAIT SHOP & BOAT RENTAL

PARKING

PARKING

channel catfish largemouth bass TRAIL RIVER ROAD

DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL RIVER PLAINES DES SCALE DES PLAINES RIVER RIVER PLAINES DES 0 250 500 750 1000 N GATEHOUSE walleye yellow perch ENTRANCE

16 TO ROUTE 21 ROUTE 137 TO TOLLWAY 17 Lake Carina Forest Preserve Lakewood Forest Preserve Lake Carina Banana Lake Taylor Lake

23 acres 3 acres 8 acres max depth: 23 feet max depth: 25 feet max depth: 20 feet

A popular fishing hole and former gravel pit, this preserve’s main feature is Lake Lakewood’s five fishing ponds are shown in this guide. Most are natural potholes Carina. A 500-foot gravel trail provides walk-in access and connects the parking and sloughs that were dammed to create deeper, permanent lakes and ponds. area with a handicap-accessible fishing pier. Banana Lake is closed for trout stocking the second half of each March and the first half of each October. Ice fishing is permitted on Banana Lake only when Directions conditions allow. Located along the Des Plaines River Greenway near Gurnee. The entrance and parking area are located on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21), between Directions Washington Street and Belvidere Road (Route 120). Located in Wauconda in southwestern Lake County. At corner of Route 176 and Fairfield Road, go west on Route 176 to preserve entrance. Follow signs to Museum.

northern pike bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish

INTERSTATE HWY 94

3 ft

N 20 ft

25 ft bluegill/sunfish crappie largemouth bass rainbow trout (Banana Lake only)

10 ft

10 ft TO EXIT AND ROUTE 176 20 ft PARKING Banana Lake largemouth bass TRAIL 3 ft 4 ft 8 ft

12 ft

16 ft 16 ft yellow perch PARKING

10 ft 3 ft PARKING

12 ft 12 ft 20 ft 3 ft TRAIL

8 ft 10 ft 15 ft N

TRAIL 16 ft 3 ft 18 ft 20 ft MILWAUKEE AVE (ROUTE 21) Taylor Lake LAKE COUNTY DISCOVERY MUSEUM 12 ft 16 ft 15 ft 18 ft 8 ft 4 ft

10 ft 16 ft 23 ft 16 ft SCALE 8 ft 0 10 20 50 100 FEET 20 ft

12 ft

PARKING

3 ft

4 ft 16 ft PARKING SCALE IVANHOE ROAD 12 ft 0 150 300 450 600 FEET 18 TRAIL TO FAIRFIELD ROAD 19 Lakewood Forest Preserve Lakewood Forest Preserve Beaver Lake Acorn Pond Heron Pond

5 acres 2 acres 4 acres max depth: 10 feet max depth: 14 feet max depth: 5 feet

Directions Directions Located in Wauconda in southwestern Lake County. At corner of Route 176 and Located in Wauconda in southwestern Lake County. At corner of Route 176 and Fairfield Road, go south on Fairfield to Ivanhoe Road. West on Ivanhoe for less Fairfield Road, go south on Fairfield to Ivanhoe Road. West on Ivanhoe for less than ½ mile to gravel road on south side. Take gravel road to end and park. Head than ½ mile to gravel road on south side. Take gravel road to end and park. Pond straight south on trail for ¼ mile to Acorn Lake. To reach Beaver Lake, continue is within sight. south on trail. Note: Bicycles and dogs are not allowed on these . Note: Bicycles and dogs are not allowed on these trails.

bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish largemouth bass

TO FAIRFIELD ROAD bluegill/sunfish OPERATIONS OFFICE

TO IVANHOE ROAD

PARKING LOT

IVANHOE ROAD channel catfish

TRAIL

5 ft largemouth bass

8 ft SCALE 050100 200 FEET 14 ft 2 ft

5 ft Beaver Lake PARKING

Acorn Pond

2 ft N DEEPEST WATER 5 ft

TRAIL

2 ft

TO BEAVER AND

ACORN PONDS

10 ft

TRAIL SCALE 010 20 50 100 FEET N

10 ft TRAIL

2 ft 20 21 Nippersink Forest Preserve Old School Forest Preserve CATCH Nippersink AND Old School Lake RELEASE 13 acres 12 acres max depth: 17 feet max depth: 16 feet

Man-made in 1965, extensive shoreline restoration efforts and improved fish Old School Lake began as a borrow pit left after construction of the adjacent make Nippersink’s two lakes great for fishing. Anglers can fish from Interstate Tollway 94 in the 1950s. or from two handicap-accessible fishing piers. TO NORTH Directions SHORE BIKE PATH Note: Catch-and-release fishing is mandatory. This program makes it recreational for Located in Libertyville in central Lake County. At anglers and beneficial for nature. Anglers are encouraged to use barbless, non-stainless corner of Route 176 and St. Mary’s Road, go south for steel hooks. See page 4 for proper techniques. ½ mile on St. Mary’s Road to preserve entrance. Take preserve road to parking lot marked for Shelter C and 2 ft Directions Sled Hill. Take the short trail north to the lake. Located in west-central Lake County in Round Lake. The entrance is located on Belvidere Road (Route 120), just west of Cedar Lake Road, east of Fairfield Road.

TRAIL

16 ft bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish largemouth bass

bluegill/sunfish

6 ft 2 ft

PARKING N DEEPEST WATER 17 ft crappie

T O PARKING

S T .

M

A

R

Y

’

S

R O

channel catfish A

D

2 ft

PARKING 12 ft

TRAIL PARKING largemouth bass

PARKING 12 ft yellow perch 6 ft 2 ft

PARKING

IL ROUTE 120

PARKING

SCALE SCALE 0 25 50 100 300 FEET N 0 50 100 200 FEET 22 TO FAIRFIELD ROAD 23 Raven Glen Forest Preserve Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve Timber Lake Sterling Lake

33 acres 74 acres max depth: 33 feet max depth: 25 feet

Timber Lake is one of the most prominent natural features of Raven Glen. Anglers Sterling Lake boasts a public launch for car-top boats: , or other can fish from shore or from two handicap-accessible fishing piers. small watercraft. Launching is free and at your own risk. You’ll need approved flotation gear and your boat must be properly registered with the State of Illinois. Directions Trailers are permitted but parking is limited to the grass overflow lot. Electric Located in north-central Lake County between Antioch and Old Mill Creek. Use motors are allowed. Ice fishing is permitted on Sterling Lake only when the main entrance and parking area located on Route 45 south of Route 173 and conditions allow. north of Miller Road. Directions Note: While the District owns 95 percent of Timber Lake, the northern portion of the Located in Wadsworth in northern Lake County. At corner of Routes 173 and 41, go lake is privately owned and not accessible for public use. east on Route 173 to preserve entrance. Stay left on preserve road to lake. Two parking lots lie on western shore. Boat launch located at first lot.

TRAIL

bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish largemouth bass 25 ft 24 ft PARKING 20 ft 20 ft 16 ft bluegill/sunfish crappie 20 ft 24 ft 25 ft 12 ft 8 ft northern pike yellow perch PARKING 4 ft 16 ft 8 ft 4 ft TRAIL 12 ft

16 ft channel catfish

DES PLANES RIVER TRAIL

16 ft

12 ft 8 ft BOAT 16 ft 12 ft PRIVATE LAUNCH TRAIL PROPERTY PARKING NO ACCESS 12 ft 20 ft 2 ft 16 ft 6 ft 16 ft 10 ft 14 ft 18 ft 12 ft 22 ft 26 ft 12 ft 30 ft 8 ft 4 ft

32 ft DES PLANES RIVER largemouth bass 16 ft

TRAIL 12 ft

OVERLOOK 8 ft 4 ft

muskellunge (not restocking)

SCALE

33 ft 41 ROUTE 0 50 200 FEET N 32 ft

30 ft 26 ft walleye 22 ft TO I-94 SOUTH ROUTE 173 18 ft 14 ft 10 ft 6 ft TRAIL SCALE 2 ft N 24 0 100 300 FEET 25 Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch Des Plaines Lake

19 acres max depth: 36 feet

Originally a and gravel pit, researchers from the Wetlands Research Project diverted the Des Plaines River through here in 1987. The lake is not managed for fishing but contains those fish common in the Des Plaines River.

Directions Located in Gurnee in northeastern Lake County. At corner of Route 41 and Wadsworth Road, go east on Wadsworth Road to the Canoe Launch on south side of road. From parking lot, go south on Des Plaines River Trail 1¾ miles to the lake.

bluegill/sunfish crappie largemouth bass

TO WADSWORTH RD CANOE LAUNCH

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC RAILROAD northern pike

DES PLAINES RIVER

DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL

DEEPEST WATER 36 ft

2 ½ MILES TO ROUTE 41 KILBOURNE RD PARKING LOT

DES PLAINES RIVER

SCALE N 0 50 100 200 FEET

26 Sport Fish Species of the Lake County Forest Preserves

bluegill/sunfish crappie channel catfish

muskellunge northern pike

largemouth bass rainbow trout smallmouth bass

walleye yellow perch carp

These non-native fi sh are now found in many Forest Preserve water ways. Carp are popular target fi sh for many anglers.

Phone: 847-367-6640 Fax 847-367-6649 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.LCFPD.org Emergency: call 911 Non-emergency public safety issue: 847-549-5200

Fish illustrations courtesy of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Printed on Recycled Paper Printed with Soy Ink 6/11 10M ALF