Sterling Lake 12/26

[Ed_r]

Went this morning. Sign at the entrance says open to ice fishing, Lake Co. is supposed to monitor the ice conditions and not open the lake until the ice is 4.5" all across the lake. Drilled a test hole in 6 FOW got a couple marks and pulled up a couple dink gills. Ice was 5". So went to find deeper water, drilled in about 8'. Ice was right at 4". was going to go a little deeper, and started to hear some buckling when I took a step. So back I went. I was out by myself and there was NO tracks on the lake so NO ONE had been out there before me since the snow. There was a lot of slush under the snow. MAYBE I hit the one weak spot, my luck is that good sometimes.lol. But I know Sterling is a Lake of interest in NO. IL. BE CAREFUL, just because the Lake Co Forest preserve says the lake is safe, use your good sense. I saw NO tracks on the lake anywhere, and NO evidence of any previously drilled holes, so I'm not sure how they are determining the ice thickness to open the lake.

It always seems this lake is one of the last lakes to get safe ice. Many other lakes (even the Fox Chain) will have solid 5" of ice and Sterling will still have open water spots. Just an FYI to people.

[Hardwaterhunter]

Went this morning. Sign at the entrance says open to ice fishing, Lake Co. is supposed to monitor the ice conditions and not open the lake until the ice is 4.5" all across the lake. Drilled a test hole in 6 FOW got a couple marks and pulled up a couple dink gills. Ice was 5". So went to find deeper water, drilled in about 8'. Ice was right at 4". was going to go a little deeper, and started to hear some buckling when I took a step. So back I went. I was out by myself and there was NO tracks on the lake so NO ONE had been out there before me since the snow. There was a lot of slush under the snow. MAYBE I hit the one weak spot, my luck is that good sometimes.lol. But I know Sterling is a Lake of interest in NO. IL. BE CAREFUL, just because the Lake Co Forest preserve says the lake is safe, use your good sense. I saw NO tracks on the lake anywhere, and NO evidence of any previously drilled holes, so I'm not sure how they are determining the ice thickness to open the lake.

It always seems this lake is one of the last lakes to get safe ice. Many other lakes (even the Fox Chain) will have solid 5" of ice and Sterling will still have open water spots. Just an FYI to people.

It sure does seem like it`s the last lake to to get safe ice. I have not fished it,but do watch the reports that are coming out there and it has some decent Muskies,Walleyes and Panfish. I think with Independence Grove open to Ice fishing that will probably be the #1 forest preserve lake this year. Keep the reports coming I just might have to give it a go.

Bob

[Ed_r]

It's just really weird,the lake isn't ridiculously deep. There isn't a major current flow through it. Maybe there are some springs in the lake.

I just like to try it cuz its real close to home and a quiet alternative to the chain. Axehead is another lake thats tough to freeze. But it holds ice well.

[Nutsicles]

I've fished this place a lot in the past two years. It's literally 3 minutes from my house, so that's why I like it. I've done better in open water, than ice fishing. But there are HUGE fish in here. It's just tough to get them to bite. I've pulled a few 20-24" eyes' out of there. Had a buddy with me one time, he was dragging a spinner bait behind the boat and landed a 29" eye that weighed just over 9 lbs. Not a lot of structure but when you find it, it's normally pretty good.

[valleye]

I've found a few cribs on her and with the camera you can see fish all around. 
Hey Nuts if you are going to fish her anytime this winter let me know.  I still need more ice fishing time on her.

[Nutsicles]

Will do, met another guy on ice shanty that wants to get together and fish. We'll have to set it up when we get some ice. Check out the illinois fishing reports, just above the ice fishing illinois tab. I put sterling lake on there, so we can have a thread on it.

[lindenborn]

Is there a 6" hole limit there?

[Nutsicles]

Unfortunately yes. 6" max hole size, and you can only fish with two lines.

[valleye]

Do they really enforce the 6" hole restriction?  I have yet to see a DNR or LCFP Ranger actually go on the ice there.

[lindenborn]

Unfortunately yes. 6" max hole size, and you can only fish with two lines.

it could be a reason for me to get a nils 6" hand auger......hmmm

[Nutsicles]

I've only seen one ranger walk out on the ice. I was coming in, and he asked me how thick it was before he walked out there. Not sure about the DNR though. I would imagine they wouldn't have any problem going out on the ice. Guess it depends on the officer.

[Ed_r]

If you go to the wwwlcfpd.org it looks like they increased the hole size to 8"

"Ice fishing shelters must be removed at the end of the day, only two poles allowed, and holes must be drilled 8 inches or smaller. A 4.5-inch layer of ice is needed for ice fishing."

Sterling as of today is still closed to ice fishing. I was there about a week ago, because I couldn't believe with all the cold we have had that it is still closed. Yet I went to the back section and there was still open water. Looks like some ducks and geese are holding a small area open. Hopefully it iced over by now, but the snow is going to hamper ice building. Lake may be a wash out for this year

[Ed_r]

Did a drive by today and yes STILL Open Water on the back half of the lake. Must be a new spring opened up there or something. This is nuts. I think Lake County Forest preserve District needs to look at opening a new lake for ice fishing.

[Nutsicles]

I couldn't agree more. There are a lot of lakes I would love to ice fish, but can't. They need to figure something out, or they won't have the need for all of their rangers.