Parks/Outdoor
Heidecke Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area
Management Contact:
Name: IL Dept. of Natural Resources - Northeast Region
Phone: 815-942-6352
E-Mail: cmcdade@dnrmail.state.il.us
Website: http://www.dnr.st...
Located southeast of Morris, Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is managed by the Department of Natural Resources for fishing and hunting. DNR has leased Heidecke Lake since 1978, when it was built as a cooling lake for the Collins power plant, which is now owned and operated by Midwest Generation. The lake provides more than 1,300 acres of prime fishing opportunities.
Fishing
Because of a comprehensive fish-stocking program, Heidecke Lake has a good fish population producing trophy-size bass. Only pole-and-line fishing is permitted, with each angler limited to using two poles. There are no fishing fees, but each angler must have a valid Illinois fishing license unless exempted by law.
To avoid the possibility of overharvest and assure a good fishery, DNR's Fisheries Division has established minimum length and daily catch limits at the lake. Strict adherence to size and catch limits will result in Heidecke Lake providing a quality fishing experience now and in the future.
Fish are measured while positioned flat on a ruler from the tip of the mouth when closed to the tip of the tail when compressed. All sub-legal-size fish must be released immediately after being caught to maximize their chance for survival.
Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged for anglers who catch legal-size fish but don't want to keep them. Anglers should handle fish with care and release them immediately after catching so the fish can survive to later provide other anglers similar recreation.
The fishing season at Heidecke Lake opens on or about April 1 each year and closes prior to the waterfowl season. Call the park at (815) 942-6352 for exact dates.
Bank fishing access is open from 6:30 a.m. to sunset. The boating access is open from 6 a.m. to sunset. Both areas are open seven days a week.
Boating
Only boats for fishing or waterfowl hunting are allowed on the lake. Each must have a gasoline-powered motor as its main propulsion unit. There is no charge for launching. No water skiing, swimming, wading, sailboating or personal watercraft is allowed.
Concession
A concession near the boat-launching area rents boats and motors. The concessionaire also sells bait and food.
Hunting
On Wednesdays through Sundays during waterfowl season, water sites are allocated by a lottery drawing 90 minutes before sunrise. Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. The lake is closed to hunting Mondays and Tuesdays. For waterfowl hunting, boats must be at least 16 feet in length and have at least a 60-inch beam with the blind built on the boat.
Shotgun and archery deer hunting are offered at Heidecke Lake. Hunting fact sheets are available by contacting the site. Waterfowl Hunter Fact Sheet | Deer Hunter Fact Sheet
Camping
Overnight camping is not available at Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area. Check the Visitor Center at adjacent Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area for information on nearby public and private campgrounds.
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
Adjacent to Heidecke Lake is the biggest prairie remnant remaining in the Prairie State, and one of the largest prairies in the United States. Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, totaling 2,527 acres, provides a link with Illinois' past.
Nearly 60 percent of Illinois was once covered with tall prairie grasses and broad-leaved flowering plants, known as forbs. Big bluestem, Indian grass, switch grass and cord grass dominated much of the landscape, accented by goldenrod, New England asters, cream false indigo and shooting star. Today in Illinois, only a tiny fraction of one percent of land remains as high quality, original prairie. Consequently, Goose Lake Prairie is of historical and natural importance. It is a reminder of the terrain encountered by Native Americans and early settlers. It also serves as a haven for wildlife, including wild ducks and geese, rare Henslow's sparrows, plains pocket gophers and larger animals such as deer and coyote.
Visitor Center
To increase your understanding and appreciation for Goose Lake Prairie, its Visitor Center features nature displays and multi-media presentations. Different programs are presented throughout the year, with a schedule available at the information counter. Groups providing advance notice can arrange videos, lectures and guided hikes with the park interpreter. Call (815) 942-2899 for more information.
Cragg Cabin
The Youth Conservation Corps built a replica of one of the first homes in Grundy County for display at Goose Lake Prairie. John and Agnes Cragg and their six children lived in the original cabin, which was built in the late 1830s near the town of Mazon. Nicknamed "The Palace" because of its two-story design, the home served as a stop on the Old Chicago-Bloomington Teamster Trail, making it the predecessor to a truck stop.
Trails
Tallgrass Nature Trail winds through the prairie and its marshes. Depending on the route, it can be 1 or 3.5 miles long. Self-guiding trail maps are available. Prairie View Trail offers 3.5 miles of hiking.
Cross-country skiers enjoy Goose Lake Prairie in the winter. The Visitor Center, which serves as a warming area, offers ski trail maps.
Directions:
From I-55 to exit 240 Lorenzo Road/Pine Bluff Road travel west approximately 7.5 miles to Jugtown Road. Turn north on to Jugtown Road and travel 1 mile to stop sign. Go straight and enter Heidecke Lake.
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