Beck Lake
Fishing Information & Reports
Beck Lake Facts
Size: 38 acres
Max Depth: 20 feet
Shoreline: 6000 feet (1.1 miles)
Location: Central and East River Road in Cook County (Glenview/Des Plaines border)
Fish: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass?, northern pike, walleye, crappie, bluegill, catfish, carp
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Jay's General Comments
Beck Lake, located in the Cook County Forest preserves bordered by Des Plaines and Glenview, is a lake many will have a love/hate relationship with. Let's start with the positives... less pressure (though still a good amount) than many other forest preserve lakes, some very nice fish including strong numbers of largemouth bass 18"+, decent northern pike population, strong stocking efforts of walleye and northern pike annually, nice surroundings, new boat ramp and pier as of 2010. The negatives of Beck Lake... goose population that is out of control and weed kills by the Cook County Forest Preserve district annually that negatively effects the fishing - often shutting it down completely. Sadly these 2 negatives can really have an impact on angling success and the stay itself.
For over a decade (I have numbers going back to 1999), Beck Lake has been aggressively stocked with a number of game fish including largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and smallmouth bass. In 2010 there was no smallmouth bass stocking which is probably good as the results have been minimal at best. Walleye exist in the lake, some good sized too, but the numbers are rarely consistent. It seems boaters who specifically target the walleye have the best chance. For the shore fisherman the walleye reports are few and far between. The top species at Beck Lake is Largemouth bass. Their numbers are strong and the size can be real good. I've caught largemouth bass of 18" - 21" at Beck Lake and 14"+ fish are common. Over the past couple of years, the northern pike at Beck Lake for been strong. What was once sporadic reports of pike are now quite common - even for the shore anglers. Many of the largemouth bass anglers are catching northern pike on traditional lures such as spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and RatLTraps.
Most of the pressure Beck Lake receives is of course, close to the parking lot. This impact is minimal however as the parking lot shoreline does indeed produce nice numbers of fish. Almost the entire shoreline can be worked, with the exception of a large portion of the western shoreline, which can only be traversed on foot during time of very low water. You won't find a whole lot of timber or wood structure along the shoreline, but weed pockets, points and rock piles, etc., will make up the majority of the shoreline structure. A boat will give you access to some deeper channels and holes that hold fish, as well as access to working the shoreline of the island, which can be quite productive.
The goose population at Beck Lake is completely out of control and quite a nuisance. Has been for years. During the spring the noise and commotion of the geese can be, well, challenging to deal with. And the mess they make in the grassy areas surrounding the lake is everywhere. This usually isn't a total deal breaker for fishing Beck Lake, but it is something to deal with for sure.
The weeds and subsequent weed kills are another topic of debate for anglers at Beck Lake. The lake does indeed get extensive aquatic weed growth during the summer months. So much so that most of the entire north part of the lake becomes a blanket of weeds. The weed kills usually occur sometime in mid summer and when done poorly, which is most of the time, the lake becomes a vacant wasteland of a bucket of dirty looking water. In some years care has been taken and only selective portions were killed off and this appeared to have minimal impact on the fishing, perhaps even improved it.
Beck Lake 2010 Fish Stocking Information:
Northern Pike - 114
Walleye - 3000
A nice new addition to Beck Lake in 2010 was the new boat ramp and pier located in the southwest section of the lake. This makes it much easier to launch without having to scrape up the bottom of your boat and get all wet in the process.
Beck Lake Accommodations
Restroom facilities consist of a nice/handicapped-accessible porta-potty in the parking lot near the entrance for the dog area. By the lake there is an old outhouse. No sinks or running water. Restaurants, shops, etc are not far from Beck Lake - mostly located about a mile east along Milwaukee Avenue.
Boating is allowed at Beck Lake. Only trolling motors may be used
The closest places to get live bait would be FishTech (formally Ed Shirleys) on Dempster in Morton Grove, Dick's Sporting Goods in The Glen Towne Centre, or WalMart on Milwaukee and Golf - but be sure to call ahead for availability!
Jay's Bottom Line
I love Beck Lake. I also hate Beck lake. Such a potential dynamite fisherie, but she often leaves the angler high and dry. The rewards can be great, but the outings often are an exercise in frustration. Using a boat increases the odds as there are many spots out of shore distance that hold some very nice fish.
Can you plan an outing to Beck Lake? Sure. Maybe not an all day affair, but getting out for a few early morning hours or sunset hours can be fun and productive. I wouldn't plan a family picnic there though because of the geese.
For current Beck Lake conditions, fishing reports and news, visit the Beck Lake Forum of our message boards.
Map and Directions
Beck Lake is located in unincorporated Cook County right on the Glenview/DesPlaines border. The entrance is on the north side of Central Ave. at East River Road and is easily accessible with plenty of parking.
