New to Naperville. Where to fish??

Dr. Crankenstein · Feb 19, 2014

Hello, all.
I'm a recent transplant from Missouri. My wife got a promotion that required us to relocate to Chicago. We are currently living in downtown Chicago in her companies apartment but are heading for Naperville in March. (I cant do the city life anymore!) Since we moved I had nowhere to put my bass boat so I had to sell it. I know its the middle of winter here but I've got cabin fever pretty bad. I have no idea about the surrounding area other than what I've read online about fishing. Its seems that there are quite a few rivers and creeks near Naperville and a few lakes scattered around too. Where might a guy go to do some bank fishing when the weather warms up? Or even take a canoe out? I hear in Naperville I'm going to need a permit to do just about anything. I'm used to fishing for all species and have fished bass tournaments for the past 20 years. Any help would be much appreciated. I'd be interested in ice fishing too. Also, we plan on visiting Chicago a lot this summer...where are good places to fish on the big lake from the bank? I was out here in August and the banks/dock pilings around navy pier look like there could be smallmouth hiding out everywhere. Also, any spots along the Chicago river? I've never really fished for yellow perch as we don't have them in Missouri really anywhere, atleast not any of the lakes I've fished. Are there any lakes or rivers where the fish are safe to eat? I've heard the Chicago river is basically a long toilet bowl. Anyways, sorry for the long post but as I said I'm new to these parts and eager to get out there when it warms up!

Thanks,

Randy

southisidefisherman13 · Feb 25, 2014

take a walk down to dusable harbor or navy pier research on how to catch perch and drop your line down. dusable has billiones of holes drilled and you can catch penty of perch. Navy pier has holes drilled because people go there with an auger with an extension and drill holes. the perch are slowing down at dusable, but navy pier is steady you might get lucky and catch a trout

southisidefisherman13 · Feb 25, 2014

oh and im not to sure about naperville fishing but if you pm me i could tell you about the chicago river and the lake front

McChou · Feb 25, 2014

I would pull up google earth and check out the retention ponds for bass fishing. Some will have 'no tresspassing' signs, others will not. It's been a few years since I've been pond hopping in the area but there are some gems (if they survive this winter).

The Dupage river can provide good action for smallies, carp, sunfish
The Fox river opens up your gamefish options

As far as fish consumption goes ... I would not eat anything out of a retention pond, or either river (check your regs on the fox and duper)... Perch from the lakefront are way up near the top of the list for table fare.

mikeyd · Feb 25, 2014

Checkout Whalon Lake in Bolingbrook which is right next to Naperville. You can put a small boat (under 16') with an electric motor in it. There are some decent bass there too, although its been a couple of years since I've last fished it.

I grew up fishing subdivision retention ponds in Naperville. Like McChou said, some of them were real gems for bass. The DuPage and Fox Rivers are good for smallmouth bass. The Fox is a little west of Naperville. You can occasionally get a bonus walleye or musky out of the Fox.

wishingiwasfishing · Feb 27, 2014

Get yourself a pair of waders and hit the DuPage as soon as the ice is off and the levels become manageable...and fish for some smallmouth. You've also got the cooling lakes to your south...among a number of rivers and creeks.

Froggin's pretty good in spots as well...come the season. Oh, if you shoot a bow there are a couple of Bow clubs around too.

Good Luck,
Dan

New to Naperville. Where to fish??

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