Fish Stocking

Stocking fish in lakes and ponds can be beneficial to the ecology of the pond as well as increase recreational opportunities. The ponds and lakes at the CCFPD are carefully monitored each year to determine the present number of fish as well as the size classes of each species. Fisheries biologists then determine an appropriate number of fish to stock.

All this is done through a cooperative lake management agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Surveying and stocking fish has been done for several years, and fishing stocking records for your favorite fishing spots are listed below:

Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
Emerald Pond
Date Species Number Size
09/24/1994 Channel Catfish 100 7-12 in.
09/21/1995 Channel Catfish 100 4-8 in.
04/17/1996 Channel Catfish 100 4-8 in.
04/17/1996 Grass Carp 10 4-8 in.
08/29/1996 Channel Catfish 100 6-8 in.
09/17/1997 Channel Catfish 33 6-8 in.
08/26/1998 Channel Catfish 30 6 in.
10/05/1999 Channel Catfish 25 8-10 in.
10/24/2000 Catfish 14 8-10 in.
08/24/2001 Channel Catfish 14 8-10 in.
09/12/2001 Channel Catfish 25 8 in.
04/10/2002 Channel Catfish 50 8-10 in.
09/03/2002 Catfish 25 8-10 in.
09/14/2007 Bluegill 150 1 in.
Cypress Pond
Date Species Number Size
04/17/1996 Grass Carp 4 4-8 in.
09/17/1997 Channel Catfish 33 6-8 in.
08/26/1998 Channel Catfish 30 6 in.
10/05/1999 Channel Catfish 25 8-10 in.
10/24/2000 Catfish 14 8-10 in.
08/24/2001 Channel Catfish 14 8-10 in.
09/12/2001 Channel Catfish 25 8 in.
04/10/2002 Channel Catfish 50 8-10 in.
09/03/2002 Catfish 25 8-10 in.
09/14/2007 Bluegill 50 1 in.
09/14/2007 Hybrid Sunfish 125 1 in.
Willow Pond
Date Species Number Size
09/29/1994 Channel Catfish 200 7-12 in.
09/21/1995 Channel Catfish 200 4-8 in.
04/17/1996 Channel Catfish 200 4-8 in.
04/17/1996 Grass Carp 4 4-8 in.
08/29/1996 Channel Catfish 200 6-8 in.
09/17/1997 Channel Catfish 117 6-8 in.
08/26/1998 Channel Catfish 154 6 in.
10/05/1999 Channel Catfish 170 8-10 in.
10/24/2000 Catfish 101 8-10 in.
08/24/2001 Channel Catfish 101 8-10 in.
09/12/2001 Channel Catfish 148 8 in.
04/10/2002 Channel Catfish 150 8-10 in.
09/03/2002 Catfish 110 8-10 in.
08/17/2004 Channel Catfish 89 8 in.
09/14/2007 Bluegill 50 1 in.
09/14/2007 Hybrid Sunfish 125 1 in.
09/14/2007 Channel Catfish 50 4-6 in.
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
Lake of the Woods Main Lake
Date Species Number Size
03/26/2013 Rainbow Trout 750-800 vary
08/01/2013 Channel Catfish 408 8 in.
03/25/2014 Rainbow Trout 1,524 vary
03/24/2015 Rainbow Trout (lbs) 1,155 vary
08/19/2015 Channel Catfish 506 8 in
03/22/2016 Rainbow Trout 2,375 vary
07/14/2016 Channel Catfish 506 vary
03/21/2017 Rainbow Trout 800-900 vary
06/09/2017 Sauger 1,880 3 in.
06/22/2017 Channel Catfish 506 vary

Elks Lake
10/2/2015 Channel Catfish 160 6-8 in.
Homer Lake Forest Preserve
Homer Lake
Date Species Number Size
08/07/2013 Channel Catfish 1,273 8 in.
08/12/2013 Largemouth Bass 2,000 4 in.
07/31/2014 Channel Catfish 1,605 8 in.
07/17/2015 Northern Pike 240 8 in.
08/19/2015 Channel Catfish 1,604 7 in.
06/09/2016 Saugeye 10,112 2 in.
07/27/2016 Channel Catfish 800 8 in.
11/01/2016 Saugeye 2,494 3.8 in.

River Bend Forest Preserve
Sunset Lake
Date Species Number Size
08/01/2013 Channel Catfish 1,964 8 in.
08/19/2016 Channel Catfish 2,477 8 in.

Shadow Lake
04/15/2004 Black Crappie 8 8-10 in.