Illinois > Ice Fishing Illinois

Northern IL DNR, Lake County specifically

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fishEH:
Who patrols northern IL/Lake County checking licenses etc on public water? I thought it was DNR Conservation Officers  but today I had an encounter with someone that had RANGER on the side of their vehicle.

Here's the situation:
   I went to a new lake, we'll call it Lake X. There is a park district park on this lake and public boat launch. The gate to the park/launch was closed and locked. I called X are park district and asked about it. Said I wanted to ice fish Lake X but the park/launch was closed. She said it was jointly operated with X Village and sometimes the gate isn't always open. She said I could park at the Community Center and went on to tell me how one of her coworkers catches panfish right there.
    I'm out on the lake and set up near the dock for the boat launch. I hear footsteps and look out to see this guy in the RANGER vehicle. He asks for my license, I oblige, and goes on to tell me that this lake is closed to ice fishing. I said "really?" and went on to tell him about my conversation. He said he'd have to straighten that out. I said I looked and didn't see any signs indicating it was closed and he said its "in the pamphlet and they'd have to work on getting a sign".
   I can't find ANY reference to Lake X in any of the Illinois Fishing Regs. In fact there's barely any reference to Lake X anywhere as its kind of small. No depth maps, nothing.

So what's my play here? Is it possible a Forest Preserve Ranger was mistaken about ownership of this lake? Are Conservation Officers actually referred to as RANGERS? I'd like to keep ice fishing this lake because I had pretty good luck. Do I carry a copy of the regulations with me and ask him to point it out next time?

1750outfiterss:
I would call IDNR

fishEH:
I probably will end up doing that.
The guy was nice enough. And I don't mind not being able to fish somewhere but I try my best to stay legal. Taking an officers word for it is OK I suppose, but I like to educate myself and know specifically where the information is that says where ice fishing is restricted.

fishEH:
So I called the DNR. They couldn't find any info on the lake and assured me it wasn't a Conservation Officer I encountered. I called the village asking if I could ice fish Lake X and they had no idea. Told me to call the parks dept. Called there and was told I could. I told them well someone in a RANGER truck said I couldn't and she gave me the number for their head ranger. Turns out they have their own parks rangers, go figure. Talk to the chief and basically they don't want people ice fishing any body of water owned by the parks dept and he proceeded to give me a bunch of other places I could fish. Kind of like "go fish here and get out of my Village", LOL. If I had more time, energy, or money I might pursue this because the info from County I have on this lake says Bottom Ownership: Public, and Description of Access : Public.

Guess I'll just go fish it in the spring when they open it up to boating. Too bad, thought I found a honey hole.  :'(

UFCreel:
Round Lake Area?

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