Gridley Lake - JEPCFWA
Location 25 acres
Fishing Outlook
Channel Catfish
Good
One Channel Catfish was collected in the spring 2017 fish survey. The population is most likely doing well even though catch rates are low in Gridley Lake. Non-vulnerable Channel Catfish will continue to be stocked biennially to sustain the population as hatchery production allows. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit.
Largemouth Bass
Fair
Fish community monitoring via electrofishing has shown to be very difficult in this lake with sample sizes being less than desired. The 2016 spring survey showed very few fish under 12”. The majority of bass collected ranged from 12-18”. The bass collected showed average body condition. About 2,100 4.1” bass were stocked in August 2016 from the state hatchery system to supplement the population. Data collected from Gridley Lake has been highly variable over the last several years, therefore it is difficult to determine whether reproduction and recruitment are an issue, or if the lack of small bass and sample size is an artifact of sample bias. Site Regulation: 15" minimum length limit; 3 fish per day.
Redear Sunfish
Average
We only collected five Redear Sunfish in the spring 2017 survey. Redear ranged in size from 4 – 8”. Redear showed average body condition values.
Bluegill
Average
In the spring 2017 survey, we collected Bluegill ranging from 2-7.5”, with the majority ranging from 3-4”. Bluegill body condition was average, but all other population characteristics are poor. We will be working toward improving the bass population, which should have a positive effect on the Bluegill population.
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | Adult | 1875 |
| 2024 | Channel Catfish | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 588 |
Contact
217-452-7741
Description
In the early 1990s, the Department of Natural Resources purchased 15,575 acres of ground from Commonwealth Edison. Ten old farm ponds on the site were rehabilitated and restocked and three new larger lakes were constructed. Gridley Lake is 24.6 acres with a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake is very clear and is steep-sided, making electrofishing surveys difficult. Gridley Lake was to be managed to produce a quality sunfish population. It was initially stocked in 1997, and in the early years did very well. It initially progressed ideally, but eventually began to prove unsuccessful. A catchable Rainbow Trout program was opened at Gridley Lake in 2014, along with an early catch-and-release fly fishing season. Northern Pike were introduced into Gridley Lake through a one-time stocking event in the summer of 2014 to add predatory pressure to the fish community and assess growth rates and survival.Fishery History
Gridley Lake had some new additions in 2014. A new fall, catchable trout program was implemented, which has replaced the Gurney Road Pond trout program, and Northern Pike were stocked into the lake to help restructure the Largemouth Bass and sunfish populations.
Gridley Lake is stocked in the spring and fall when the special "catch-and-release only fly fishing season" opens on the Saturday 2 weeks prior to the regular trout harvest seasons. The regular spring trout harvest season on Gridley Lake begins on the 1st Saturday in April, and the regular fall trout harvest season begins on the 3rd Saturday in October. Wade fishing is permitted. An Illinois fishing license and an Inland Trout stamp are required and should be purchased before arriving at the park.
Trolling motor and canoe access are allowed at Gridley and Drake lakes.
Other bodies of water in the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish Wildlife Area include: Prairie Lake, Drake Lake and Gurney Road Pond.
Site Regulations
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Trout: Fall Closed Season; Spring Closed Season; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit; Early season catch-and-release fishing is permitted