Little Cascade Lake

How big is Little Cascade Lake?

How deep is Little Cascade Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Little Cascade Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Little Cascade Lake?

A special regulation for northern pike (a 24 to 36-in protected slot) was implemented on Little Cascade Lake in 2003, and remains in force. The objective for the regulation was to produce a significant increase in the number of northern pike 24 inches or more in length taken in ice-out trap netting or standard gill nets.

This was the third of three population assessments scheduled in the 2005 lake management plan to evaluate the northern pike special regulation. The first, done in 2005, was intended as the final baseline assessment, while assessments in 2010 and 2012 were intended to provide post-regulation data. The lake management plan was to be reviewed and revised in March 2013. Legislative action in 2012 extended the northern pike regulation for another ten years, regardless of the results of the current evaluation.

Little Cascade Lake supported a fairly high quality northern pike population in 2012; northern pike were abundant, and larger than average for a lake of this type. The gill net catch was above the normal range for the lake class, although it was similar to catches seen in the past in this lake. Mean weight for northern pike taken in gill nets in 2012 was also above the normal range, and was one of the highest seen in this lake historically. Most of the northern pike collected in 2012 were two- or three-year-old fish, with no fish older than four years found. Growth had been relatively fast; fish reached an average length of 22.2 inches by the end of their third year, compared to an average of 17.2 inches for similar lakes in Cook County.

Data available to date do not allow us to conclude that the regulation on Little Cascade Lake has resulted in an increase in the size of northern pike taken in ice-out netting, or in standard gill nets. Although results of the 2012 assessment were very good, fish taken in 2010 had been smaller. Taken together, sizes of fish from the post-regulation assessments (2010 and 2012) were not significantly higher than sizes observed in pre-regulation (baseline) assessments. It can take many years for length restrictions to take full effect. Since the regulation has been extended for another ten years by legislative action, we may see more positive effects as the evaluation continues.

As has been the case in past assessments, the only other fish species taken in 2012 were white sucker and yellow perch. The white sucker gill net catch was relatively low for a lake of this class, but was similar to catches observed in this lake historically. The yellow perch catch was was within the normal range for the lake class, and was similar to catches seen in this lake since 1988. Most of the yellow perch taken were too small to have been of much interest to anglers; however, perch provided an excellent forage base for northern pike.

Are there any state parks near Little Cascade Lake?