Location: The Wilderness Area is located within the Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area South Unit, 2 miles northeast of South Wilmington in Kankakee County off West 5000 Road. It is located on the north side of West 5000 Road across from the Ponderosa Area.

Description: The Wilderness Area provides walk-in fishing with limited boat access. Several impoundments are located in this area, including Wilderness (Long) Lake (26.7 acres) and Little Wilderness Lake (7.9 acres), as well as several smaller interior ponds. An unimproved gravel boat access is present at both Long and Little Wilderness Lakes. There is no vehicular access to Long Lake or the interior ponds. Shoreline fishing is extremely limited in this area which makes it attractive to smaller watercraft users and belly boaters. These lakes are also targeted by ice fishermen.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: Due to the remote nature of these water areas and a lack of sufficient access, the completion of fisheries surveys has been greatly impacted. Only the larger lakes have been evaluated and no stocking programs have been initiated at this area.

No special mercury advisory or other contaminant-related consumption advisories pertain. Based upon the limited data which has been collected on the main lakes, anglers can expect to catch species which are typical for the area. Largemouth bass and bluegill have been collected in IDNR surveys in modest numbers. Northern pike were also collected from Long Lake but their population is expected to be fairly low. Site reports indicate that anglers do catch a wider variety of species from these areas and some catches of larger fish are made as well. Given the lack of easy access, fishing pressure is less than on other more accessible lakes/ponds and as such the quality of the fishery may be worth the extra effort needed to fish this area.

Additional Lake Information: Trolling motor only. Two pole and line fishing only.

Contact Information:
Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish & Wildlife Area
815-237-0063
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Seth Love
630-360-4772