Lake County Ice Fishing
By: Jonathan Jones 01/30/2015
Besides Lake Michigan, Lake
County obtains 170 lakes and rivers. Now that is prime real estate when you're trying to go fishing when the temperatures drop.
The best type of fishing is in the winter. Who doesn't want to carve out a huge hunk of ice and go after some of the best walleye, crappie, trout, pike and other Lake County species.
Here are a few places to dip your jig in when the water has turned into icy terrain in Lake County!
Lake County Forest Preserves
There are great spots to ice fish in the Lake County Forest Preserves. At these preserves, you should practice the catch-and-release style of fishing so Lake County can keep strong species and populations. At Independence Grove, it is mandatory to catch and return the fish to its natural environment.
To ice fish at the forest preserve, for your safety the ice must be 4.5 inches thick and the hole must be drilled at six inches in diameter.
Here are some of the Lake County Forest Preserves that permit ice fishing. They are a catch!
Van Patten Woods 15838 West Route 173 Wadsworth, IL 60083 Fish @ Sterling Lake 6:30 am – one hour after sunset Fish: Bass, Catfish, northern pikes and crappie
Lakewood 27277 Forest Preserve Road Wauconda, IL 60084 Fish @ Banana Lake Only Fish: Trout and Bass
Independence Grove 16400 West Buckley Road Libertyville, IL 60048 Fish: Musky, northern pike, black crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch
Northpoint Marina
The Northpoint Marina obtains two piers or docks for ice fishing in Winthrop Harbor.All bass in the Lake Michigan’s waters are all catch and release. Some of the fish you can catch are bass, pumpkinseed sunfish and bluegills.
Chain O’ Lakes
At this Lake County boating community staple, it obtains 15 lakes that connect to the Fox River. You're sure to find a spot that will get nibbles. On February 14-15, Chain O'Lakes will host their 55th annual Fishing Derby. The species of fish that call these lakes home include the walleye, largemouth bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, bluegill, catfish, black crappie, bullhead, white bass, yellow bass, carp, and the northern pike.
To learn more about ice fishing continue here
