Fishing

Vernon Hills residents can enjoy many hours of fishing at any one of eight (8) retention ponds located within our parks. Smaller ponds contain bass, bluegill, northern pike, crappie and walleye. The Park District encourages catch and release for all species, regardless of size.

Shoreline fishing is permitted at all of these Park District ponds (lakes), from 8:00 am until dusk. Fishing by electric-powered boats is permitted at Big and Little Bear Lakes and at Lake Charles. Please respect the property of those residents living near the lakes.

Willow Lake in Deerpath Park and the west pond in Grosse Pointe Park had aerators installed in 2006 to increase the water quality and control algae. 

A fishing license is required for those 16 years and older. Contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for more information.

Deerpath Park
Firethorn Lake 2.68 acres, deepest point is 12'.	Willow Lake 2.69 acres, deepest point is 6 '.	Evergreen Lake 5.62 acres, deepest point is 5 '.

Century Park
Big Bear Lake 24.9 acres, deepest point is 20'.	Little Bear Lake 25.2 acres, deepest point is 20'.
Big Bear Lake Bathymetric Map	Little Bear Lake Bathymetric Map
Big Bear 2008 IDNR Fishery Report Big Bear 2008 IDNR Fish Catch Report

Grosse Pointe Park
West pond one acre, deepest point is 7'.	East pond 0.4 acres, deepest point is 11'.

Lake Charles Park

Lake Charles 39.1 acres, deepest point is 10'.

All fishing on Park District ponds and lakes falls under the licensing jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Illinois fishing laws, including daily limits and minimum sizes for fish caught. For more information on Illinois fishing regulations and licenses contact the IDNR.

Spring 2013
Fish Stocking

Willow Lake

600 - 3" - 5"
Bluegill

170 - 5"- 8"
Largemouth Bass

Grosse Pointe West

300 - 3"- 5"
Bluegill

100 - 5" - 8"
Largemouth Bass

Click here for information on the District's Fish Stocking Program