Harrier Lake

[victor z]

First off, like to say hi to everyone, first real post here.

 

been fishing a lot lately, off work with a bum back.

been going to Harrier Lake off Sterns road west of Bartlett. (east the railroad tracks)

this is a catch and release only lake.

weedy, shore can be very muddy after a rain, but some of the best fishing i have ever come across.

perch, large and smallmouth, cats, blue gills, walleyes.... been catching a bit of everything.

grabbing around 50 fish per day, 3-4 hours.

biggest so far has been a 16" LMB. had a lot of good sized (7-12")smallies. but you got to toss them back.

been using orange bellied green sided lures with great success, grasshopper lures work great to. when the cicada's come out they should make great bait!

brought a friends kid and using diced ham, he kept me from fishing that day! pulled fish after fish out, must of gotten at least 15 before i got tired of baiting and unhooking! this in about 45 minutes!

and for some reason he was getting a lot of smallies. gave that little zebco rod a work out!

i recommend this lake to someone who likes a lot of action, but not fishing for food.

also good if you got a youngster who you want to get hooked on fishing.

the weeds are a problem, but there are open strips that you can work, plus you can walk all the way around. you will be blazing a trail but that is fun also.

only has a port-o potty and paved parking. no real trail system yet. has a sand bar in the middle that would be great if you could get to it. don't know how deep the water is between it and shore.

want to add that the fish was good all day, gone early at noon and late, fish just were hungry all the time.

Vic

[Scott Ferguson]

Hi Victor, welcome to the ISA forums. Just as some background, I can safely say that almost none of us here ever fish for smallies for food. Catch and release is our mantra.

[victor z]

my way of thinking to, except if i'm in florida!

Grunts and groupers!

[Guest Don R]

ISA volunteers helped install fish cribs in Harrier lake a few years ago. Great to read of your success!

[Guest rich mc]

it was originally stocked with perch bluegill and smallies to be a smallmouth lake dont know how lm got in there rich

[victor z]

? for the group...

been fishing at harrier lake ( sterns rd in bartlett) a lot, great action and lot of fun.

anyway this is a catch and release all species lake.

so i'm sitting there and these asian guys walk by with a bucket full of fish, i can see perch and LMB on top,

bucket (5 gallon) is about 3/4 full.

do you say something or do you call someone (they will be long gone by the time someone shows up) or do you live and let live?

how would you handle this?

kinda ticks me off, i want this lake to really be a great place in 4-5 years, and hate when some feel they don't need to follow the rules.

(i'm worried that the weekend fishers at pratt-wayne will clean this lake out like they did at the main lake)

[Norm M]

if possible get the license plate/make/model of vehicle, good description of subjects and call a CPO. If you don't know the number call the Il State Police office for that district and tell them you need a CPO. They will get your contact info and the CPO will get in touch. This day/age I would be leery of direct confrontation.

[ronk]

There's good chance these guys will be back.Keep an eye out for them and call the authorities wile they're still in the act.

[Guest rich mc]

call the number onthe park signs,they have their own police staff and can respond very quickly. rich

[eugene f collins]

Do you have a camera phone? If you do use it take a picture or 10. Du page county Officers are very good at their job.

Show them all the pictures including a license plate and watch them do there duty.