Binagami Lake

How big is Binagami Lake?

How deep is Binagami Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Binagami Lake?

What are the closest cities to Binagami Lake?

Are there boat launches on Binagami Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Binagami Lake?

Binagami Lake is currently managed for bluegill and walleye. The management goal for bluegill is a relatively high trap net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with some fish larger than seven inches present. The goal for walleye is a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches present. This was the first of two assessments scheduled in the 2012 lake management plan to monitor fish populations in this lake, and to determine whether additional bluegill stocking would be needed to meet the goal for that species.

Bluegill were present in Binagami Lake in 2014; however, their numbers were probably low and most were very small. None were taken in standard trap nets, so the catch goal for the species was not met. Since the catch was low, another stocking of adult bluegill has been proposed for the spring of 2015. Bluegill were collected in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets used in this assessment. The catch in those nets included one seven-inch fish, and several in the 1.5-2.5-inch range. The smaller fish probably came from a single, moderately strong year class produced naturally in 2013 or 2012. Bluegill were last stocked in this lake in 1999.

The 2014 walleye catch was typical of catches seen in this lake since 1986. The gill net catch fell a little short of the goal for the species in this lake, and was low for a lake of this type; however, the catch was similar to most seen in this lake recently. The walleye size goal was met by the capture of fish over 20 inches in length in gill nets and trap nets. Although the 2014 catch did not meet the current goal, the general trend in this lake has been towards increasing walleye numbers since stocking was discontinued in 1994. All walleye taken in 2014 had been produced naturally, and it appeared that a moderately strong year class had been produced in 2012. Growth of young walleye had been good; fish reached an average length of 9.0 inches by the end of their second year, compared to an area mean of 8.6 inches. Too few older fish were taken to allow growth of older walleye to be described.

Binagami Lake is one of a small number of Cook County lakes supporting rock bass, and they've usually been abundant. The 2014 rock bass catch in standard trap nets was low for this lake historically. Since rock bass have not provided much (if any) angling opportunity, probably compete with bluegill (and young walleye) for forage, and may prey directly on young bluegill, a drop in rock bass abundance may be a positive sign for this lake.

No northern pike or yellow perch have ever been collected in Binagami Lake. The absence of those species is unusual in a lake of this type, in this area. Largemouth bass have not been collected in this lake since 1983, and no smallmouth bass have ever been found

The white sucker gill net catch was within the normal range for a lake of this type, and for this lake historically. White sucker can compete with walleye for invertebrate forage. Although their numbers did not appear to have been excessive in 2014, the lack of yellow perch in this lake increases the reliance of walleye on invertebrates, and increases the chances that competition from white sucker could be (or become) a limiting factor for the walleye population.

Are there any state parks near Binagami Lake?