Fish
Cast a Line
Looking for a place to fish that is close to home? Use our Find a Site page to see different locations on a map, or see more detailed information on each location below.
Fishing Guidelines
- Fishermen must obey all State of Illinois fishing regulations and any other posted site-specific regulations.
- Anglers age 16+ need to carry a valid IL fishing license and appropriate stamps (such as Inland Trout Stamp) at all times while fishing. Licenses may be obtained at most stores sporting goods stores or online at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.
- All anglers on District sites are limited to only two fishing devices and the use of live bait (minnows) is prohibited.
- Wading and the use of individual flotation rings is also prohibited.
- The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary and Nippersink Creek in Richmond allow for the use of non-motorized boats, canoes, or kayaks.
Ice Fishing
Even though a lake may be completely iced over, always use caution when venturing out. Stay off ice that is less than 4 inches thick. When there is more than four inches, ice fish via foot travel in single-file lines, assuming the ice is clear and clean of snow. Ice Fishing is only allowed on Lake Atwood at The Hollows. Due to the installation of aerators to prevent winter fish-kill, ice fishing is no longer allowed at Pleasant Valley or Rush Creek. All other sites close to regular fishing upon formation of surface ice.
Let us know what you caught
Plan to fish Conservation District waters this spring and summer? We want to hear about what you catch! We're collecting data in an effort to learn more about what is being caught and anticipate future stocking needs. Please complete a survey at MCCD.me/CatchReport to let us know!
Help keep our conservation areas beautiful! Please remember to Pack-In-Pack-Out and bring all trash with you when you leave.
Find a Site
Use the buttons below to find more information about each site. You can also search by the species of fish you are targeting in the search box.
Fishing
18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock
Main Pond (11 acres) depth map
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, bullhead
Typical Annual Stocking: 100 bluegill; 100 largemouth; 300 lbs of channel catfish
Twin Ponds (2 acres) locator map
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, bullhead, carp
Typical Annual Stocking: 100 bluegill; 100 largemouth bass
County Line Road Access
4700 County Line Rd., Marengo
Fish: Channel catfish, bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, green sunfish, crappie
11700 Country Club Rd., Woodstock
Dufield Pond (7 acres) depth map
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, carp, crappie, channel catfish, Northern pike, yellow perch
Typical Annual Stocking: 100 bluegill; 100 largemouth bass
1520 Crystal Lake Ave., Cary
Main Pond (4 acres) depth map
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, warmouth, pumpkinseed, bullhead
2020 Stocking: 50 bluegill, 50 largemouth bass
West Pond (1 acre)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill
2020 Stocking: 50 bluegill; 50 largemouth bass
2020 Stocking: 50 bluegill; 50 largemouth bass
Hickory Grove Riverfront depth map
500 Hickory Nut Grove Rd., Cary
Fish: largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, Northern pike, pumpkinseed, warmouth, bowfin, green sunfish, carp
Fox Bluff Conservation Area
Algonquin Rd & Cold Springs Rd., Cary
Fish: largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, Northern pike, pumpkinseed, warmouth, bowfin, green sunfish, carp
Please be Informed – The Lake Atwood trail and boat launch are scheduled for construction in August 2024.
This may affect access to some portions of the lake. Thank you for your patience as they improvements are being made. Please check the closures and alerts page for updated information closer to the date.
3804 Route 14, Cary
Lake Atwood (22 acres) depth map
Fish: largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish
2024 Stocking: 775 Rainbow Trout (from IDNR Spring stocking); 700-900 (MCCD Fall Stocking)
Typical Annual Stocking: 125 bluegill; 125 largemouth bass
Little Atwood (2.5 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill
Typical Annual Stocking: 75 bluegill; 75 largemouth bass
(2 ponds; 2.5 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, warmouth, orange-spotted sunfish, bullhead
Typical Annual Stocking: 75 bluegill; 75 largemouth bass
Marengo Ridge pond (1 acre)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill – (not stocked)
(Note: pond subject to winterkill)
Keystone Road Canoe Landing
6500 Keystone Rd., Wonder Lake
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish
Pioneer Road Canoe Landing
7405 Pioneer Rd., Ringwood
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish
Lyle C. Thomas Memorial Park
2816 Blivin Rd., Spring Grove
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish
Nippersink Canoe Base
400 E. Route 12, Spring Grove
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish, Northern pike
Beck’s Woods
5940 N. Pagles Rd., Chemung
Fish: rainbow trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish
Piscasaw North/Beck’s Woods
7600 Maxon Rd., Chemung
Fish: rainbow trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish
2023 Stocking: 300 Rainbow Trout (from IDNR- Spring stocking)
13315 Pleasant Valley Rd., Woodstock
Pleasant Valley pond (1.5 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass (catch-and-release only), bluegill
Typical Annual Stocking: 75 bluegill; 75 largemouth bass
Note: Pond subject to winterkill. An aerator was added in summer 2016. No longer an ice fishing site.
20501 McGuire Rd., Harvard
Rush Creek pond (5 acres) depth map
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish
Note: an aerator was added in summer 2016 to help the pond’s oxygen levels – no ice fishing available.
Typical Annual Stocking: 100 bluegill; 100 largemouth bass
Access off Behan Rd., Crystal Lake
Silver Creek Pond (1.5 acre)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill
Typical Annual Stocking: 75 bluegill; 75 largemouth bass
3716 State Park Rd., McHenry
Stickney Run pond (3 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish
(Note: pond subject to winterkill)
8415 Johnson Rd., Hebron
Winding Creek Pond (1 acre) – catch & release recommended
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie
Typical Annual Stocking: 100 bluegill; 100 largemouth bass
Ice Fishing
Ice Fishing is fish at your own risk. Open/Closed signs are not posted. Stay off ice that is less than 4" thick.
Lake Atwood (22 acres) depth map
Fish: largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish
2020 Stocking: 150 bluegill; 150 largemouth bass
2021 Stocking: 220 bluegill; 220 largemouth bass
