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MACKINAW BIG POND


Lake Information

County: Tazewell

Acreage: 2

Average Depth: 0.00 feet

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? NO BOATS allowed

Boat Ramps? No

Boat Rental? No

Skiing? No

Swimming? No

Picnicking? No

Camping? No


There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2024

Channel Catfish

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

100


Additional information for stocking on Mackinaw Big Pond


Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Good

The bluegill population was evaluated by 127 bluegill collected by Pulsed-DC electrofishing. The current bluegill population is rated as good. The 2021 fish kill appears to have cropped off the top end fish as no bluegill over 8.5” were sampled. This population has a body condition of 88. Effective April 2021, a new bluegill regulation of 5 fish per day was set. The goal of this conservative regulation is to further push this already excellent bluegill population to even larger size classes.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Very Good

This population currently has fish ranging from 12 - 20 inches and receives annual stockings of channel catfish which should provide anglers with ample opportunity.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Poor

In 2024, the largemouth bass population was evaluated by 72 bass collected by Pulsed-DC electrofishing. The largemouth bass population appears to be evenly spread across all size classes from 4 – 16 inches at this time with a body condition of 97. We collected multiple bass over 15 inches which was not a size class regularly collected in previous surveys. The collection rate was 196/hr. This high-density population is applying effective predation upon the panfish population.

Location: The Mackinaw Fish and Wildlife Area Ponds are located four miles northeast of Mackinaw, adjacent to the Mackinaw River, off Gresham Road.

Description: There are two ponds at Mackinaw Fish and Wildlife Are: one is 1.5 acres and the another is 1.0 acre. Maximum depth of these ponds is 12.5 feet. Both have limited access to bank fisherman due to willow growth along the banks.

Contact Information:
Mackinaw State Fish and Wildlife Area
15470 Nelson Rd, Mackinaw, IL 61755
309-963-4969
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Blake Bushman
(309) 435-1010