Bayles Lake (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bayles Lake |
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 Bayles Lake
Location in Illinois
Bayles Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Iroquois County, near Loda, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 40°31′45″N 88°05′36″W / 40.5291°N 88.0932°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | none: spring fed |
| Primary outflows | none: spring fed |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 9.93 mi (15.98 km) |
| Max. width | 0.7 mi (1.1 km) |
| Surface area | 237 acres (96 ha) |
| Average depth | 8–16 ft (2.4–4.9 m) |
| Max. depth | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Shore length1 | 9.94 mi (16.00 km) |
| Surface elevation | 748 ft (228 m) |
| Islands | none |
| Settlements | Loda, Illinois |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Bayles Lake is a cool freshwater lake in Illinois. It's located in Iroquois County, near the town of Loda. This lake is actually a "reservoir," which means it's a man-made lake built to store water. It's not far from another lake called Lake Iroquois.
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Fishing Fun at Bayles Lake
Bayles Lake is super famous for its amazing fishing. It's known as one of the best fishing spots in North America! Imagine catching a fish that sets a new state record. Well, five different types of fish caught here have done just that! These record-breaking fish include walleye, green sunfish, brown bullhead, white crappie, and a special type of sunfish.
What Fish Can You Catch?
Many different kinds of fish live in Bayles Lake. Here are some of the most popular ones you might find:
| Species name | Lake average weight | Lake average length | Lake record |
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| Walleye | 4-8 pounds | 18-26 inches | 15.9 pounds- 32 inches: also an Illinois state record! |
| Largemouth bass | 3-5 pounds | 17-23 inches | 10.3 pounds- 27 inches |
| Smallmouth bass | 2-4 pounds | 15-20 inches | 5.1 pounds- 23 inches |
| Channel catfish | 10-20 pounds | 25-40 inches | 24 pounds- 34 inches |
| Striped bass | 8-15 pounds | 30-40 inches | 15.7 pounds- 37 inches |
| Black crappie | 0.5-1.5 pounds | 6-12 inches | 1.6 pounds- 14.4 inches |
| White crappie | 0.5-1.5 pounds | 6-12 inches | 4.7 pounds- 14.1 inches: also an Illinois state record! |
| Bluegill | 0.5-1.0 pounds | 5-10 inches | 0.8 pounds- 11 inches |
| Carp | 9-19 pounds | 23-35 inches | 23.95 pounds- 34 inches: this record is not official |
| Flathead catfish | 10-35 pounds | 25-50 inches | 34 pounds- 54 inches |
| Blue catfish | 15-45 pounds | 25-55 inches | 37 pounds- 51 inches |
| Green sunfish | 0.2-1.5 pounds | 4-11 inches | 2.1 pounds- 12 inches: also an Illinois state record! |
| Brown bullhead | 1-2 pounds | 6-14 inches | 2.7 pounds- 16 inches: also an Illinois state record! |
| Yellow bass | 0.1-0.7 pounds | 4-12 inches | 1.1 pounds- 13 inches |
| Rock bass | 0.1-1.1 pounds | 6-14 inches | 1.7 pounds- 15 inches |
Why is Fishing So Good Here?
Bayles Lake is a great place for fishing because it's full of fish! Each year, more fish are added to the lake. This helps keep the fish population healthy and growing. You can find many different kinds of fish here, like channel catfish, blue catfish, various sunfish, and many types of bass and crappie.
Even though the lake doesn't have a lot of seaweed, the fish still grow really big. This is good news for fishermen because it means fewer snags on their fishing lines. It's easy to see why fishing is one of the most popular activities at Bayles Lake!
History of Bayles Lake
Bayles Lake isn't a natural lake; it's a reservoir, which means people built it. It was created in the late 1940s. The lake gets its water from a natural spring.
In 1952, a group called Bayles Lake, Inc. created some rules for the lake, called "Covenants." Later, in 1969, all the rights to the lake were given to a new group. This group was called the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association. They became responsible for the lake, roads, parks, and even the water and sewer systems around the lake.
In 2008, the association changed its name to the Bayles Lake Homeowners Association (BLHOA). The next year, in 2009, they launched their website, www.bayleslakehoa.com. This website helps everyone who lives around the lake stay connected and informed.
