10 replies to this topic

[Sunfish Catcher 321]

Has anyone caught pickerel in the Des planes river north of Chicago or anywhere north of Chicago in il.

[BenCantrell]

I've caught them in Fox River tributaries across the border in Wisconsin. I'd imagine they'd be on the Illinois side as well. They like to hang out in the heavy vegetation away from the main flow of the creek/river.

[smbass]

I also remember getting them in the Fox River but not sure if we were in IL or WI. This was for a summer job just after graduating college. I remember putting a sall northern pike and grass pickerel next to one another for a photo...

[Sunfish Catcher 321]

Thank the fox river is not far from me

[strat guy]

Des Plaines has them but its a hotbed for tiny Northerns too. I would guess they get outcompeted pretty easy. 

[Sunfish Catcher 321]

Do you have a favorite spot

[strat guy]

I like Isle a la Cache in Romeoville, and the State St. access in Lemont. The Isle a la Cache access has a lot of little feeder creeks and has a man made dam not too far down where fish get pushed up against it and congregate. If you're looking for pickerel though, Isle is great because of all the shallow feeder creeks and lots of emergent vegetation. Pickerel like to stay shallow and hunt in vegetation. If you're a fisherman, its great for channel cats. Get a dozen roaches and put one under a float and you'll have fun for a few hours. I'm planning on going there in the spring to stock my tank. Lots of places there to go netting and the water is fairly clear.

[NateTessler13]

Have you tried searching the Illinois Natural History Survey Fish Database? http://ellipse.inhs....fishsearch.html

 

I did a queried the database by genus "Esox" and drainage "Des Plaines", and obtained these results: http://ellipse.inhs....llections/FMPro

 

From these results, I would suggest looking into Marley Creek (tributary to Hickory Creek in Will County), Grant Creek, and Black Partridge Creek.  I wouldn't put too much faith into finding them in the DuPage River or Salt Creek.  From personal experience, grass pickerel are few and far between in those streams.

 

If you're looking for grass pickerel north of Chicago, just query the database by "Esox americanus" and select the appropriate County.

 

Good luck!

[NateTessler13]

Be aware of the year the collections were made...quite a few species present in early collections (around the year 1900) are no longer present in those locations.

[Sunfish Catcher 321]

Thanks

[strat guy]

Forget Black Partridge. Its a pain to get to, its a tributary off the DP that leads to a backwater pond off Bluff Road and State St. in Lemont. You can't get to it without either wading a real long way or walking through tons of bullrush and cattail.

 

I'm going to be trying Marley Creek and Hickory Creek in the spring. Real close to me. I posted a video about Midwestern natives in the collecting forum that talks about Hickory creek and the fish in there. You should watch that video, the lady who does the presentation is from Tinley Park, if I guess right, and she talks about all the species you can find in our area. Real interesting watch.