FAMILY FISHING LOCATION IN CHICAGO AREA

 

Living in Chicago area for some 30 years still provides surprises in terms of family fishing locations.  The best fishing seems to come in the forest preserves and along the lakefront.  There are several rivers but they tend to be better probed by experienced anglers.  The competition with other recreational users along the lake front in summer makes family fishing less popular than the forest preserves.

Each of the forest preserve districts of Cook County,  Lake County, DuPage County, Will County and the Chicago Park District have websites containing locations, maps, and facilities available.

Up to date fishing information is available at http://www.windycityfishing.com.

A prime example, but by no means the only good family location is the Busse Woods Lake in northwest suburban Elk Grove Village.  It offers excellent facilities and a variety of game fishing prospects.  An aggressive program of stocking has established a fishery containing populations of largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, musky, bluegill, warmouth, sunfish, yellow bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead and carp.  The lake is one of the best lakes in the region for finding a variety of game species in good size.

The park borders Illinois Route 53 on the west, Arlington Heights Road on the east, Higgins Road on the north and is included in the Ned Brown Forest Preserve.  There is a bait and tackle shop in the shopping center at the corner of Higgins Road and Arlington Heights Road.

The lake divides into three sections.  All stocking takes place in the main lake (419-acres) and the south pool (156-acres).  As a result most anglers focus there.  The 25-acre north pool produces some excellent largemouth bass exceeding the 18-inch keeper minimum.  Fishing in that area is exclusively shore fishing.

The lake contains some 20 miles of workable shoreline for the shore angler.  This includes some half dozen fishing walls.  The areas nearest the parking lots receive the most fishing pressure.  It is advisable to walk a short distance along one of the paths to find more promising water.  For the boat angler, either in his own or locally rented boats, there are sections of submerged timber, rocks and vegetation to explore.  There are fishing piers and handicap access areas.

You can use of canoes, rowboats, and sailboats on the south and main lake.  There are launching ramps and watercraft rental available.  You can use your trolling motor but not a gasoline engine.

There are lots of restroom facilities ranging from porta-potties to stone structures with running water.  Numerous paved parking lots make for easy action to the lake.  Although there are numerous picnic pavilions there is no camping in the park.  The closer surrounding area has numerous hotel/motel, restaurant and shopping accommodations