Pierce Lake
State Park and Muskie Status Report Info
The following is an excerpt from the IL State Parks website:
Chiseled out of the state’s far northern region is Rock Cut State Park in Winnebego County. Nearby are other "rocky" landmarks - the mighty Rock River and the place where wagons once forded it, Rockford. It’s an area of rolling plains, interesting history and recreational variety.Two lakes set off the park’s 3,092 acres. Pierce Lake, with 162 acres, is a retreat for people wanting to fish, ice fish or ice skate. A second 50-acre Olson Lake is especially for swimmers. Rounding out the park’s recreational options are camping, hiking, horseback trails and cross-country skiing. Whatever the season, you can be sure there’s quite a bit of activity going on at Rock Cut State Park.
One of the park’s most popular activities is fishing Pierce Lake - named for state Rep. William Pierce of Rockford, who served in the legislature from 1951-1966 and who proposed the first land acquisition for the park in 1955. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish, as well as bullhead, northern pike, muskellunge and walleye. Beginning May 1, 2002, Pierce Lake will allow any size engine on the lake, however, engines over 10 hp can operate at No Wake speed only.
Directions
I-90 West to Rockford. Take the East Riverside Blvd. Exit. Follow signs off tollway as follows: Go West on East Riverside to Perryville Road, Go North on Perryville to Hwy. 173, Go East on Hwy. 173 about 1-1/2 miles to Park Entrance.
The following is an excerpt from the IL DNR's
"STATUS OF MUSKIE FISHERY IN ILLINOIS 2004"
PIERCE LAKE - This 162-acre lake was built in 1960. It was completely drained in 1970 due to a defective valve. The lake’s predators in addition to muskie include largemouth and smallmouth bass, and walleye stocked supplementally each year. Among the many prey species are gizzard shad, brook silversides, white suckers, and carp.A muskie stocking program was begun in 1983, and to 1989 - 1,274 large fingerling muskie (11") were stocked from the Carlton Silt Basin, state hatcheries, and Muskie, Inc.
The muskie sign-in program from 1987 to 1991 has reports
of 59 fish caught with 42% of these fish being
harvested. Creel data from 1993 found an estimated 30
muskie caught with none reported as being harvested.
Creel data from 1999 estimated 50 muskie caught with 3
estimated harvested.
An Illinois Natural History Survey study was begun in 1990 to determine the comparative survivability of stocked 4", 8", and 10" fish. In 1990 - 3,335 muskie were stocked as part of this study of which 1,000 were 10" fish. The study was continued in 1992 and 3,772 muskie were stocked of which 709 fish were 10" in size. The lake was monitored through 1997. The preliminary results were that no survival occurs on muskie stocked under 8.0" in size.
From 1997 to 2003, Jake Wolf supplied 1,301 muskie 10" - 13" and the Flatlanders Muskie, Inc. supplied an additional 330 muskie with 51% of these fish over 20" and 79% from the Leech Lake Strain. Jake Wolf production was good in 2003 and Pierce Lake was stocked with 824 - 6.0 to 10.0" fish. The lake is now part of a statewide muskie genetic survival study and will continue to receive generous stocks of muskie from strains throughout the country.
From 1997 through 2002, 60 muskie were taken below the dam with 25 of them taken during the wet 2000 year. This generated interest from the Flatlanders in installing a barrier net to prevent fish escapement. Initial planning and fund-raising began in 2001, but by mid-2002, the State Water Survey determined a net could not be installed due to possible dam failure. Retrieval of muskie below the dam will continue in future years.
The Lake and Willow Creek tailwaters has a 48" size limit on muskie with a limit of one per day.
Coming Soon !!!