Iron Lake

How big is Iron Lake?

How deep is Iron Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Iron Lake?

Are there boat launches on Iron Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Iron Lake?

Iron Lake is managed for Walleye and Bluegill, although Northern Pike are important in this lake as well (2007 Lake Management Plan). The long range goal for Walleye is to improve their abundance to achieve a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set. The goal for Bluegill is a population supporting a minimum trap net catch of 1.4 fish/set. Goals for the Northern Pike population are a minimum gill net catch of 1.2 fish/set, with some fish over 25 inches in length present. This was the second of three surveys scheduled in the 2007 lake management plan to monitor the fish community and determine whether Walleye stocking in this lake (resumed in 2008) was effective. In addition, the survey was part of a 2016 Section of Fisheries initiative to evaluate all current Walleye fingerling stocking in the state, on a lake-by-lake basis.

The 2016 Walleye gill net catch, while low for a lake of this class, was still one of the higher catches seen in this lake since 1980. Only five year classes contributed to the 2016 catch, and all but one of those had been produced naturally. Walleye growth had apparently been somewhat faster than average, at least in their early years. On average, fish reached a length of 13.8 inches by the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 12.6 inches.

Walleye fingerling stocking since 2008 does not appear to have met management goals, and seems to have contributed little to the population in this lake. Although Walleye gill net catches in 2012 and 2016 were the highest seen in this lake since 1987, they still fell well short of the long range goal for the species. Although stocking in 2008 and 2010 probably contributed to the 2012 catch, fish from one natural year class (2007) were also collected in that survey. In the 2016 survey, all but one of the Walleye collected came from unstocked year classes. The contribution of stocked year classes in 2016 was limited to a single fish from the 2010 year class.

Iron Lake is one of very few lakes in Cook County to support a significant Bluegill population, and has begun attracting some attention from anglers seeking that species. In 2016 the Bluegill trap net catch, and the average size for Bluegill taken in that gear, fell close to the middle of normal ranges for a lake of this type. The 2016 catch was similar to catches seen in this lake since 1984, but the average size of fish taken was fairly high for this lake. Strong year classes produced in 2012 and 2011 accounted for 71% of the Bluegill taken in standard trap nets in 2016, but high catches of smaller fish in small-mesh trap nets suggested the 2015 and 2014 year class may also have been strong. Bluegill growth appeared to have been about average for this area. Fish reached an average length of 6.6 inches by the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 6.8 inches. Bluegill as large as 8.4 inches were taken in 2016, and 56% of the fish taken in standard trap nets were six inches or greater in length.

The 2016 Northern Pike gill net catch was within the normal range for a lake of this class, and was similar to most past catches in this lake. The long range catch goal for the species was met in 2016, but not the size goal. No Northern Pike 25 inches or larger were captured in any of the sampling gears used in this survey; most were under 22 inches. Reproductive success appeared to have been fairly good, with five year classes contributing to the 2016 catch, but growth had been slow.

Forage for Walleye and Northern Pike appeared to have been limited. The Yellow Perch gill net catch was still relatively low, despite showing some improvement between 2012 and 2016. No alternative prey species were collected in small-mesh trap nets, although small Bluegill did seem to be abundant, and may have provided some forage for Northern Pike. White Sucker numbers appeared low, and most would have been too large to be taken by any but the largest Northern Pike present.

Although Iron Lake is accessible by boat from Little Iron Lake, anglers should be aware that the channel between the lakes is long, shallow, and choked with vegetation. At one point it is narrow and rocky, and may not be passable in low water.

Are there any state parks near Iron Lake?