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MUD LAKE
Lake Information
County: DuPage
Acreage: 22
Average Depth: 4.99 feet
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? No
Boat Ramps? No
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Map courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Good | Eighteen Black Crappie were caught in the 2021 survey, ranging in length from 4.4 to 11.4 inches. This Lake is another example of fluctuating abundance of Black Crappie in a short time. The previous survey in 2017 collected only three Black Crappie, the largest measuring 9.2 inches. This lake is not stocked with or managed for crappie at this time. Small lakes in the area tend to show large fluctuations in crappie catch and can overpopulate a lake easily without the proper predator balance. Site Regulation: No minimum length limit; 15 fish daily limit. | |
Good | As in previous years, the Bluegill catch rate was high at over 300 fish per hour. Bluegill abundance this high often leads to overcrowding, stunting or less than desirable-length fish. The Bluegill in the sample ranged in length from 1.5 to 7.1 inches, with an average length of 4.9 inches. Twenty-six percent of the Bluegill sampled were longer than six inches. Size structure was similar to the 2017 survey when 28% of the sample was longer than six inches. Pumpkinseed are also present in Mud Lake, but are few and far between. Site Regulation: No minimum length limit; 25 fish daily limit. | |
Good | Common Carp are abundant in Mud Lake. Fourteen Common Carp were collected, ranging in length from 16.6 to 23.8 inches. Common carp dislodge vegetation and cloud the water with their feeding behavior of “rooting” through the substrate. Unlimited harvest is encouraged for this detrimental species. | |
Fair | No Channel Catfish were caught in this survey. Channel Catfish were last stocked in 2013, so the Channel Catfish in Mud Lake will be quite large. The last time Channel Catfish were sampled in Mud Lake (2017), the smallest fish was over 22 inches, and the largest was over 26 inches. Site Regulation: 12-inch minimum length limit; 3 fish daily limit. | |
Excellent | In our 2021 electrofishing survey, the catch rate for Largemouth Bass was 73 fish per hour, which is lower than during the previous survey but still excellent. This abundant population shows no signs of stunting as the fish ranged in length from 5.2 to 20.5 inches, with the heaviest fish weighing 5.0 pounds. Twenty-eight percent of the sample measured longer than 15 inches. This fishery continues to produce quality Largemouth Bass year after year! Site Regulation: 14–18-inch protected slot limit; 4 fish daily creel limit with 3 fish that can be harvested under 14 inches and 1 fish 18 inches and larger. | |
Fair | No Yellow Perch were sampled in the 2021 survey. Seven yellow perch were sampled during the 2017 spring electrofishing survey. These fish ranged in length from 5.4 to 7.9 inches. | |
Location: Mud Lake is located in the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve. Parking is available off Raymond Drive a half mile south Diehl Road in Naperville.
Description: Mud Lake is a 22 acre borrow pit with a maximum depth of 16 feet and an average depth of 5 feet. There is a one-mile walk-on a gravel trail from the parking lot to the lake, which helps to limit fishing pressure at this site. Mud Lake is one of 30 lakes and ponds owned and maintained for sport fishing by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (FPDDC). There is good shoreline fishing access available via a gravel trail around half of the lake. No watercraft allowed.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: In 1984, the FPDDC entered into a cooperative management agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to facilitate management activities on their lakes and ponds. These waters have been under management by the FPDDC Fishery Ecologist and IDNR to provide quality sport fishing opportunities. Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish are occasionally stocked to supplement the population. New site-specific regulations for all FPDDC waters were put in place in 2017.
Abundant Largemouth Bass and Bluegill should offer anglers plenty of action in this “off the beaten path” fishery. Some very large bass have been caught in this lake! Yellow Perch, Black Crappie and Channel Catfish are present but not abundant. Several riverine species are present in this lake due to connectivity with the DuPage River during flood events. Gizzard shad, Black and Yellow Bullhead, White Sucker, Golden Shiner, Yellow Bass and Green Sunfish were also caught in the survey. Yellow Perch were present in the 2017 sample.
Additional Lake Information: Two pole and line fishing only.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth Bass: 14–18-inch protected slot limit; 4 fish daily creel limit with 3 fish that can be harvested under 14 inches and 1 fish 18 inches and larger
Bluegill: No minimum length limit; 25 fish daily limit
Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum length limit; 3 fish daily limit
White and black crappie: No minimum length limit; 15 fish daily limit
Contact Information: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County 630-933-7200IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Andy Plauck815-675-2386 ext. 214
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