Maple Lake - FPDDC
Info / DuPage County
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
No
Boat Ramps
No
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
Yes - More Info
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
None
Location 32 acres
Fishing Outlook
Bluegill
Excellent
The catch rate was 306 fish per hour in 2020. This is well above the management goal and suggests that removal of Yellow Bass is helping the Bluegill Population. Bluegill size structure looked better in 2020 than in the last two surveys (2012 and 2016). Nineteen percent of the Bluegills were longer than six inches, while five percent were longer than seven inches.
Black Crappie
Very Good
Twenty-two Black Crappie was captured in this survey, which meets the management goals for this lake. This species also looks to doing better with the removal of Yellow Bass.
Largemouth Bass
Good
Largemouth Bass were captured at a rate of 59 fish per hour.Largemouth Bass ranged in size from 3.1 to 20.6 inches long with an average length of 8.6 inches. The heaviest bass weighed 4.8 pounds. Thirty-Three percent of the catch were longer than 12 inches, while 6% were longer than 15 inches.
Contact
630-933-7200
Description
Maple Lake is a 17.7-acre borrow-pit lake located in the Meacham Grove Forest Preserve. The lake was built in 1952 and rebuilt in 1994 as an urban flood retention reservoir. It is one of 30 lakes and ponds owned and maintained for sport fishing by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (FPDDC). No watercraft are allowed. There is a popular jogging/walking path around the lake. The FPDDC has installed several fish attracting structures in this lake.Fishery History
These waters are under management of the FPDDC Fishery Ecologist to provide quality sport fishing opportunities. In 1984, the FPDDC entered into a Cooperative Management Agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to facilitate management activities. Channel Catfish and Largemouth Bass have been stocked regularly in the last 10 years. Walleye were stocked for the first time in 2019. In a 2012 survey, Yellow Bass were found to be very abundant. This species is not managed in this lake and is considered a nuisance species. Active removals since 2013 have removed 685 pounds of Yellow Bass. The fish are being used to feed animals at a nearby wildlife and bird rehab facility. An electrofishing survey was conducted on June 1, 2020 to assess the sportfish population. Low numbers of quality size Largemouth Bass and Bluegill were found in the previous surveys in 2012 and 2016. The 2020 survey showed Yellow Bass were still present, but not in alarmingly high numbers. Largemouth Bass and Bluegill population indices look better than they have in more than a decade!Site Regulations
No watercraft allowed.
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
- Bluegill or Redear Sunfish: 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Channel Catfish: 12 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Largemouth Bass: Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of fish greater than or equal to 14 inches and less than 18 inches; 4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 3 fish less than 14 inches
- Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye: 16 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black or Hybrid Crappie: 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Yellow Perch: 9 inch Minimum Length Limit; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit