Since Matt brought up a good point. I thought I would post this concerning a very good Bass lake in this area. Bangs Lake
Bangs Lake Creel Limits
Fish Limits
Species
Daily Limit
Length
Northern Pike
2
24 Inches
Muskellunge
1
36 Inches
Bass-Large and Small Mouth
2
13-15 Inches Only
Walleye
2
Minimum 15 Inches
Panfish (Blue Gill, Sun Fish)
25
Minimum 6 Inches
Black Crappie
15
Minimum 9 Inches
2002 SUMMARY REPORT
of
BANGS LAKE
Lake County, Illinois
LIMNOLOGICAL DATA - WILDLIFE ASSESSMENT
During the 1980's, an extensive stocking program was carried out by various interests in
the community. Stocking efforts from 1983-1990 included 2,070 large mouth bass
between 1983 and 1985, 7,500 walleye between 1985 and 1989, 2,100 northern pike from
1986-1988 and 1,250 channel catfish in 1988. In the 1990's, catfish and walleye
continued to be stocked, along with northern pike. There were 700 northern pike stocked
in 2001. No stocking occurred in 2002. Fisheries assessments have also been conducted
on Bangs Lake for many years. The most recent assessments date back to 1990, when
Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation conducted night electroshocking on June 18 and 19.
Sixteen different fish species were found for a total of 367 fish. Bluegills were the most
abundant species collected (72.5%), followed by largemouth bass (12.6%) and yellow
bass (7.6%). The sample included only one walleye and no northern pike, as these are
difficult to shock and may not be indicative of quantity. Overabundance of bluegill and
limited natural reproduction in walleye and pike were the main problems noted. In 1992
and 1997, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) conducted a fish survey
through electroshocking, gill nets and trap nets. In 1997, a total of 294 fish, comprising
16 species were collected. Compared to the 1992 survey, species number in 1997
declined from 23 species (absent from the 1997 survey were warmouth, channel catfish,
brown and yellow bullheads, spotfin shiner, blackchin shiner, banded killifish and white
sucker). The small number or size of the fish and the low water temperature at the time
of the survey may explain these results. Bluegill was the dominant species in 1992 and
1997, although the population had experienced a decrease in abundance from 61% to
46%. Largemouth bass had increased substantially from 9% in 1992 to 21% in 1997.
25
The remainder of the fishery exhibited relatively stable to slight changes in abundance.
The presence of two state threatened species, the blackchin shiner and banded killifish in
1992, and of one state endangered species, the blacknose shiner in 1997, was noted and it
was recommended that the presence of these fish be considered in lake management
decisions. In a fish survey conducted by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the
Lakes Management Unit in 1998, 298 fish comprising 20 species were collected. All
three threatened/endangered fish species were found, along with another state endangered
species, the Iowa darter. Only seining nets were used in this survey and collection was
concentrated in shallow areas. In 2002, another IDNR fish survey was performed using
electroshocking, trapnets and gillnets. A total of 291 fish comprising 15 species were
collected. Of the four threatened/endangered species, only the blacknose shiner was
found in 2002. This is likely a function of the sampling technique used, which is not
appropriate to sample very small fish in shallow areas. Largemouth bass and bluegill
dominated the fish community. According to the survey, there has been no appreciable
difference in the overall bass population in Bangs Lake relative to basic population
analysis over the past 10 years. What has changed is that fewer age classes are present
and older fish have dropped out of the population. There are strong year classes carrying
through, which should provide both reproductive potential and catchability as they get
older. Bluegill, black crappie and yellow perch were of similar size distribution and
abundance as past surveys. The northern pike population appeared to be balanced and
made up of a variety of age classes. Recommendations by the IDNR included a
largemouth bass creel of 1-3 fish and 15 inch length limit, allowing the harvest of panfish
in order to reduce overpopulation, and another fish survey in 2003 or 2004 to assess
whether sampling error missed larger fish and the small threatened/endangered fish
species.
Wildlife observations were made on a monthly basis during water quality and plant
sampling activities (See Appendix B for methodology). Because the abundance of
wildlife habitat in the form of wetland and buffer areas was relatively high around Bangs
Lake, a moderate number of wildlife species were observed, including the state
endangered osprey (Table 7). A larger number of high quality songbirds and waterfowl
would probably take advantage of the high water quality and plant community of Bangs
Lake if the abundance of residential shoreline around the lake was lower. However,
considering how developed the lake is, the number of wildlife species is encouraging.
The maintenance of wetland and buffered shorelines and the establishment of additional
buffer strips (especially along the shoreline of newly developed areas) is very important
and strongly recommended to provide the appropriate habitat for birds and other animals
in the future.
Hop this wasn't too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a good example of what Matt was talking about.
