Busse Lake
Fishing Information & Reports
Busse Lake Facts
Size: 590 acres
Max Depth: 26 feet (average max depth: 10 feet)
Shoreline: 20.4 miles
Location: Bordered by Rt 53 on west, Arlington Heights Road on east, Higgins Rd on North. Located in the Ned Brown Forest Preserve
Fish: Largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, musky (2007 stocking), bluegill, warmouth, sunfish, yellow bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead, carp
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Jay's General Comments
Busse Lake is located in the Ned Brown forest preserve and was constructed in 1978 as a flood control reservoir and public recreation area. It was opened for fishing in 1980 after extensive stocking efforts.
Busse Lake is officially divided up into 3 sections - the main lake at 419 acres; the south pool at 146 acres, and the north pool at 25 acres. Other sections include the area north of Higgins road that turns into Salt Creek, Clearwater Bay which is connected to the Main Lake, Hasse Lake which is part of the south pool, the main dam which spills down into Salt creek from the main lake, and the warm-water-discharge just downstream of the main dam in Salt Creek.
As one of the top Cook County forest preserve lakes, Busse Lake offers some of the best fishing in northeast Illinois. Catches of 20"+ largemouth bass, 24"+ walleye, 34"+ northern pike, 14"+ crappie, and 5lb+ channel catfish are documented annually.
In September of 2007, 800 musky were stocked in Busse's main lake. They will be off-limits for a few years, but if they take hold, Busse could provide a good musky fisherie in the coming years.
Boat rentals are available on a seasonal basis from the dock located on the main lake. They are a bit expensive though. Boat ramps are available on both the main lake and south pool. No boats are allowed on the north pool or in Salt Creek.
The shore angler will find a half dozen fishing walls located throughout the entire lake. And there are litterally miles of workable shoreline. Those fishing from a boat will be able to access many terrific spots out of reach from the shoreline. There are sections of submerged timber, rocks, weedlines, lily pads, you name it. The structure at Busse Lake is very diverse and extensive.
Ice fishing is popular through the winter months at Busse Lake when the ice is at least 4" thick. But even more popular during winter is the "Busse warm water discharge". Actually located on Salt Creek down from the main dam area, this discharge from a north suburban water treatment facility contains a section of water that never freezes and offers some excellent open water fishing for bass, northern pike, walleye, crappie, and bluegill when everywhere else is frozen solid. It is very shallow and the fish spook easily so its important not to cause too much commotion and to fish with lighter gear.
Busse Lake Accommodations
There are plenty of large restroom facilities throughout the Ned Brown Forest Preserve as well as some porta-pottys. Some restrooms do have sinks with running water. Not always very clean, as these are still forest preserve facilities. There is lots of parking throughout the entire preserve.
The boat rentals have concessions available when they are open during the summer months. The surrounding communities have plenty of shops, restaurants, etc. Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in the country is located just minutes west of Busse Lake. Hotels and motels are not far either.
For bait and tackle, one of the best places in the entire area is Lee's Bait and Tackle located in the mall on Arlington Heights Road and Higgins. He has a large selection of live bait and some tremendous tackle, rods, reels, etc. A true quality shop.
Jay's Bottom Line
Busse Lake is one of the few shining stars for fishing in the Cook County forest preserve system. The surrounding forest preserve is also ideal for family picnics, corporate outings, barbecues, etc. The paved trails are great for joggers, hikers, bicycling, and rollerblading.
Busse Lake is a place where one can definately plan a fishing outing. A boat will increase chances of getting on some better fish, but the shore fisherman has 20 miles of shoreline to explore.
I've been enjoying this lake for over 15 years and still haven't covered half the water there.
For current Busse Lake conditions, fishing reports and news, visit the Busse Lake Forum of our message boards.
Map and Directions
Busse Lake is very easy to get to. There are several access points. The main entrance is on the south side of Higgins Road just east of Rt 53. This entrance offers access to the north pool, the main lake, and the south pool. Access to the main dam/salt creek/warm water discharge area is located on the west side of Arlington Heights Road just south of Oakton. There are a couple other entrances to small sections throughout.
Mapquest Map of Busse Lake
Mapquest to Main Dam/Salt Creek/discharge Section
Mapquest Map to Main Entrance