Location: Rush Lake is located in the East Branch Forest Preserve on Glen Ellyn Road, 0.25 miles south of Army Trail Road in Glendale Heights.

Description: Rush Lake is a 15.0-acre borrow-pit lake located in the East Branch Forest Preserve (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County – FPDDC). The lake was built in the 1980s and rehabilitated in 1990. It has a maximum depth of 20 feet and average depth of 8 feet. The East Branch of the DuPage River flows adjacent to the lake, but it does not appear to have flooded lake since the 1990 rehabilitation. The lake and much of its watershed are set in a natural setting in the park and the shore is undeveloped. There is a moderate 50-yard walk down hill, on a gravel trail to access the lake. A crushed limestone path circles the lake and several areas are cleared for fishing access. No watercrafts are allowed.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The fish community in this pond is sampled every four years. Largemouth bass and channel catfish are stocked when needed including 152 adult bass from Harrier Lake in 2017. Vegetation is being treated by a contractor hired by FPDDC. New sportfishing regulations for all DuPage County Forest Preserve lakes and ponds went into effect April 1st, 2017 – most notable being a 14-18 inch protected slot length for Largemouth Bass. Anglers will be allowed to harvest three bass under 14 inches and one trophy (over 18 inches), if desired. This regulation is designed to increase numbers of preferred size bass as well as increase the size of bluegill (more large bass to feed on small Bluegill). A 40-minute electrofishing survey of Rush Lake took place on June 3rd, 2020. This survey was conducted five weeks later than usual due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Results from the 2020 fish survey show that Rush Lake has a low abundance Largemouth Bass and good number of Bluegill. Catch rates could be lower than normal as the survey took place after the bass spawning season. Easy shore access and fish attractors should provide ample opportunities for a quality fishing experience.

Additional Lake Information:
Site Specific Regulations:
Largemouth bass: 14-18 protected slot limit. 4 fish possession limit. 3fish under 14 inches. 1 fish over 18 inches.
Channel catfish: 6 fish per day, 12 inch minimum length limit.
Crappie: 15 fish per day, no minimum length limit
Bluegill and Redear Sunfish: 25 fish daily harvest limit.

Contact Information:
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Dan Grigas
630-933-7668
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Andy Plauck
815-675-2386 ext. 214