McHenry County Conservation District

Tip: Use our interactive map to locate specific fishing sites!

MCCD offers fishing fun for anglers of all ages and experience levels. Whether your passion is fly rods and spring trout, bobbers and bluegills in the summer, crankbaits for bass or jigging for crappies through the ice, there is something for everyone!

Fishermen must obey all State of Illinois fishing regulations and any other site-specific regulations posted. For a complete list of state laws click here.

Be sure to carry a valid fishing license (and appropriate stamps, such as Inland Trout, when needed) at all times while fishing. Licenses may be obtained at most stores where sporting goods are sold or online at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website (dnr.state.il.us). Licenses are not required for those under 16 years of age, or for those declared legally disabled or blind.

All anglers on MCCD sites are limited to only two fishing devices and the use of live bait (minnows) is not allowed. Wading and the use of individual flotation rings is also prohibited.

Some sites allow the use of non-motorized boats or canoes. These must have valid registration, the proper number of flotation devices and conform to all other State regulations.

MCCD hosts its annual Hooked on Fishing program for families in June during the statewide free fishing days (when no license is required). Check our Landscapes newsletter for details!

MCCD Sites Where Fishing is Allowed
(with a valid license) and what fish you might catch there:

* Winter Ice Fishing Available

Ice fishing during the winter season, MCCD opens several sites for ice fishing after the formation of 4" of clear ice on the water:

• Fel-Pro RRR, Cary — CLOSED

• Lake Atwood & West Lake
at The Hollows, Cary —CLOSED

• Lyons Prairie & Marsh, Cary — CLOSED

• Pleasant Valley, Woodstock —CLOSED

• Rush Creek pond, Harvard —CLOSED

• Stickney Run pond, McHenry —CLOSED

All District ponds are closed upon the formation of surface ice. With the exception of those sites listed above, the other ponds on District sites remain closed for the winter season, re-opening in the spring.

For more information or to check the status of the ponds, please call the District's Main Office at 815-338-6223.

Last updated 3/5/2010

BROOKDALE POND
18410 US Highway 14
Woodstock

Brookdale Pond (11 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, bullhead

County Line Road Access (Kishwaukee River)
4700 County Line Rd.
Marengo

Fish: Channel catfish, bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, green sunfish

DUFIELD POND
11700 Block of Country Club Rd.
Woodstock

*Dufield Pond (7 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, rainbow trout, channel catfish, yellow perch

FEL-PRO RRR
1520 Crystal Lake Ave.
Cary

*Main Pond (4 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, warmouth, pumpkinseed, bullhead

*West Pond (1 acre)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill

FOX RIVER

Hickory Grove Riverfront
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

THE HOLLOWS
3804 Route 14
Cary

*Lake Atwood (22 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish

*West Lake (12 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie

*Little Atwood (2.5 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill

LYONS PRAIRIE & MARSH
7500 Hickory Nut Grove Rd.
Cary

*Lyons Prairie & Marsh (2 ponds; 2.5 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, green sunfish, warmouth, orange-spotted sunfish, bullhead

MARENGO RIDGE
3100 N. Route 23
Marengo

Marengo Ridge pond (1 acre) -
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill

NIPPERSINK CREEK

Keystone Road Landing • 360° view of Keystone Landing •
Glacial Park
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish

Pioneer Road Landing
Richmond
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish

Lyle C. Thomas
Spring Grove
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish

Nippersink Canoe Base
Spring Grove
Fish: channel catfish, bass, bluegill, walleye, bullhead, carp, green sunfish, Northern pike

PISCASAW CREEK

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

PLEASANT VALLEY
13315 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Woodstock

*Pleasant Valley pond (2 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill

RUSH CREEK
20501 McGuire Rd.
Harvard

*Rush Creek pond (4 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish

SILVER CREEK
1200 Block Rawson Bridge Rd.
Cary

Silver Creek Pond (1 acre)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie

STICKNEY RUN
3716 State Park Rd.
McHenry

*Stickney Run pond (3 acres)
Fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish

The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required for all pdf files.

The free QuickTime player is required for all 360° photos.