Why Northern Pike are not introduced to central Illinois

**hairy lures** · 02-01-2017, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by clfarms1

I believe they tried them in Lake Shelbyville and it didn't work out as Musky hasn't worked as well as they hoped.

If I remember correctly, there were some HUGE northerns reported by the IDNR in Kinkaid back in the 60s. The DNR figured muskies would do well there so they stocked them too. They seem to be doing good, even with a little reproduction and VERY hot water. How the northerns got in originally, I don't know. You never hear of any northerns being caught in Kinkaid today.

**jnebgud** · 02-01-2017, 12:05 PM

Interesting

**clfarms1** · 02-01-2017, 03:51 PM

Here is a fishing survey for Kinkaid http://www.ifishillinois.org/ssr/00253.pdf

**Banjomarsh** · 02-01-2017, 11:40 PM

There is little danger in them taking over any lake in central Illinois as they do not reproduce naturally. ( I think they need running water.) They have been putting them in Spring lake south(Manito) for many years and I don't think have ever been a problem. They stocked them in Banner Marsh(My "home" water) from the beginning (1980). The bass fishers would catch one occasionally as would I with the exception of one day in June of 2003 when I caught 8 of them 6# to 9#. But that day, everything was going crazy, the best day of fishing I ever had, big bass, big crappie and even 2 6# walleyes plus the N. Pike. They quit stocking them and I haven't caught one since.

**jnebgud** · 02-02-2017, 07:28 AM

Did not know they do not reproduce

**hairy lures** · 02-02-2017, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by jnebgud

Did not know they do not reproduce

They naturally TRY to reproduce, but you need a healthy population of breeding stock for it to succeed. Also, if water conditions are not perfect due to temperature fluctuations, predation by other fish and lack of weed growth which baby northerns use for concealment, natural spawning is rarely successful. Also, I believe most stocked northerns lack the ability to reproduce because they are hybrids.

**clfarms1** · 02-02-2017, 01:22 PM

Northern aren't hybrid

**Stumblebum** · 02-03-2017, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by jnebgud

City of Bloomington owns both lakes. Sticker fee for each. I agree with dnr short on money, but I'd like to see the city loosen the purse strings a little

I always thought the McLean County Dept. of P.& R. owned Evergreen Lake.

**jnebgud** · 02-03-2017, 07:34 PM

Always was told the city owned it

**Stumblebum** · 02-07-2017, 05:36 PM

You are right. I thought the county owned it when I saw county employees there all the time, including taking the daily use fee. I copyed this from the Lake website. ---->

Location: Evergreen Lake is located approximately 15 miles North of Bloomington, Illinois and is easily accessible by taking I-39 North to the Lake Bloomington/Evergreen Lake Exit, then proceeding west on the Lake Bloomington Road (2500N).

Description: Evergreen Lake was built in 1970 to serve as a secondary water source for the City of Bloomington. The lake is owned by the City of Bloomington and is managed by the McLean County Department of Parks and Recreation. Evergreen Lake is part of Comlara County Park. The lake is 925 acres and has an average depth of 19.7 feet and a maximum depth of 50 feet. There are 2 boat launches on the lake and one canoe launch. Comlara County Park offers 137 campsites, a swimming beach, and showers. The Friends of Everbloom is an organization that assists with habitat projects and improving the quality of Evergreen Lake. To learn more about their organization, visit their web page Friends of EverBloom - Home.

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