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I & M CANAL
Lake Information
County: Grundy
Acreage: 164
Average Depth: 0.00 feet
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? Electric only
Boat Ramps? No
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
Trout stocked in fall
Trout stocked in spring
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2024 |
Largemouth Bass |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
2754 |
2024 |
Redear Sunfish |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
1376 |
Additional information for stocking on I & M Canal
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Fair | This Bluegill population could be classified as fair at best, generally dominated by smaller individuals. Larger Bluegills are more commonly caught by ice fishermen. Lock 14 is currently the best location. | |
Fair | Channel Catfish have historically been found at the Channahon Access as well as the Aux Sable Lock and the Morris area. Lock 14 pool historically was a good location but has not been stocked in a few years. Site Regulation: 6 Fish Daily Creel Limit. | |
Poor | Both species of Crappie can be found in the Canal. Large Crappies are not common, but fish in excess of ten inches have been collected during IDNR sampling. The Canalport Park Access in Morris and Lock 14 provides the best opportunity for these species. | |
Fair | Flathead Catfish have historically been found at the Aux Sable lock area. | |
Good | Although Largemouth Bass can be found throughout the Canal, the best area at the present time is the Lock 14 section in LaSalle. Bass up to 4 pounds are possible (the largest collected in 2022 was over 21 inches). Site Regulation: 15-inch Minimum Length Limit. | |
Developing | Found at Lock 14, Redear Sunfish numbers have been slowly increasing over the years (though none were collected in 2022). | |
Average | Smallmouth Bass have been more commonly found in the area near the Channahon feeder and below the Aux Sable lock. Site Regulation: 15-inch Minimum Length Limit. | |
Location: Originally running from Lake Michigan in Chicago to LaSalle and the Illinois River, this once vital transportation artery is now dry in many areas while other sections contain water on an intermittent basis. The Canal travels through many towns including Lockport, Joliet, Morris, Ottawa, Utica and LaSalle.
Description: With construction commencing in 1836 and taking 12 years to complete, the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal stretched 96 miles linking the Great Lakes to the Illinois River. The canal was the impetus for the settlement and development of much of northeast Illinois and is rich in history. The I &M Canal was originally hand-dug to depths of 6 to 8 feet and time has degraded much of the Canal and portions have little or no water flow. Those that do are marginal in terms of supporting viable fish populations.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: To monitor the fish population, a full fisheries survey of selected areas of the canal is conducted once every two years (most notably Lock 14 in LaSalle and the stretch along Calhoun Street in Morris). Aquatic vegetation is treated in Lock 14 every Spring to control Eurasian Milfoil, Curlyleaf Pondweed, and Filamentous Algae which would otherwise make angling extremely difficult.
The I&M Canal supports a variety of fish species with better angling opportunities available near Channahon, the Aux Sable lock, Calhoun Street, and Lock 14 in LaSalle. The Nettle Creek aqueduct was damaged in 2013 and caused dewatering of the Canal west of the aqueduct. This also impacted the feeder system for Gebhard Woods and those ponds have been dewatered.
Catchable-sized Rainbow Trout are released in the Spring and Fall in the Lock 14 pool in LaSalle and catchable-size Hybrid Sunfish and Channel Catfish are stocked at Lock 14 in conjunction with an annual children's fishing event in June.
No special mercury advisory or other contaminant-related consumption advisories pertain. However, the statewide methylmercury advisory for sensitive populations is in effect (one meal per week of predatory sportfish for the most sensitive populations).
Additional Lake Information: Boat access is limited and only electric trolling motors can be used.
Additional Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
All Fish Species - Two Pole and Line Fishing Only.
Large or Smallmouth Bass – 15-inch Minimum Length Limit
Channel Catfish – 6 Fish Daily Creel Limit.
Rainbow Trout – Spring and Fall Closed Season (Lock 14)
Contact Information: Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail 815-942-6529IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Seth Love630-360-4772
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