Axehead Lake - FPDCC
Info / Cook County
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
No
Boat Ramps
No
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
Yes
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
Fall & Spring
Zebra Mussels
Location 17 acres
Fishing Outlook
Northern Pike
Fair
Northern Pike are occasionally stocked; fish to 37” have been collected, though not abundant. Northern Pike add to the diversity of the predator base to balance the lakes overall fishery.
Bluegill
Good
Survey data shows Bluegill can exceed 8 inches long, which is a good indicator of “sufficient” predation and a balanced fish population. Bluegill abundance is good, their maximum size is good and there is ample shoreline access to target them! Find vegetation to find Bluegills.
Largemouth Bass
Good
Bass were collected at a rate just below the goal. The maximum size fish collected was 12.7”; nearly all fish collected were sub-adults though sampling errors associated with this deep, clear lake make “sampling” adult fish difficult. Since catch rates were decent it indicates that natural reproduction occurs, so adult-size fish “must” be present in fair numbers to carry the population along. Anglers report fair catches, especially in spring when fish tend to be closer to shore.
| 2025 | Bluegill | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 29981 |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | Adult | 2008 |
| 2024 | Bluegill | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 17135 |
| 2023 | Bluegill | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 32264 |
Contact
630-897-0516
Description
Axehead Lake is 17 acres, has a maximum depth 31 feet and an average depth of approximately 17 feet. The lake was created in 1958, probably as a borrow pit for expressway construction; it’s steep sided and very clear. The lake is difficult to survey with conventional methods, so fisheries data is sparse. Axehead Lake has ample shorefishing access, two parking lots, picnic tables and porta-potty outhouses. No boats are allowed. No fish cleaning station is available.Fishery History
The lake is part of both the spring and fall inland Rainbow Trout seasons, and receives occasional fish surveys by IDNR or FPDCC fisheries staff to evaluate vegetation and fish species abundance and diversity. Smallmouth Bass were supplementally stocked in this borrow pit lake to try and establish a population, but positive results have been difficult to verify so Smallmouth Bass stockings have been discontinued. Approximately 10 species live in this system including those listed above, as well as Black Crappie, Green Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Yellow Bass, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, and White Sucker.Site Regulations
No boats allowed. Designated ice fishing lake.
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; no minnow seines, minnow traps, cast nets or shad scoops allowed
- Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish: 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Trout: Fall Closed Season; Spring Closed Season; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Additional Information
Planning to eat your catch? Fish Consumption Advisory information can be found here: Fish Consumption Advisory PageBath Map
