Whalon Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whalon Lake |
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 Whalon Lake
Location in Illinois
Whalon Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Royce Road, west of Route 53/Bolingbrook Drive in Naperville, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°42′58″N 88°05′35″W / 41.716°N 88.093°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Surface area | 81 acres (33 ha) |
| Average depth | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Shore length1 | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Surface elevation | 640 ft (200 m) |
| Islands | 2 |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Whalon Lake is a cool place in Naperville, Illinois. It used to be a quarry, which is a big hole dug to get out rocks and sand. Now, it's a beautiful lake where you can have lots of fun! You can go fishing, kayaking, walking, and biking here. The Forest Preserve District of Will County takes care of the lake.
Whalon Lake is pretty big, covering about 81 acres. It's usually about 15 feet deep. The shoreline, which is the edge of the lake, is about 1.5 miles long.
Contents
Discover Whalon Lake's Past
Whalon Lake wasn't always a lake. For almost 50 years, this spot was a quarry. A company called Elmhurst-Chicago Stone dug up sand, gravel, and limestone from the ground here.
In the 1990s, the Forest Preserve District of Will County bought the land. After they finished working on the area, they let the quarry fill up with water. This is how it became a lake!
Whalon Lake officially opened to the public in 2008. It's now a popular spot for outdoor activities.
The lake is part of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. This group owns and manages land in 70 different forest preserves. Ten of these are special Illinois Nature Preserves. They protect rare plants and animals. The land for Whalon Lake was bought with money from local voters.
What Can You Do at Whalon Lake?
The lake has a shoreline that is about 1.5 miles long. This length does not include the two small islands in the lake. You can walk along the entire shoreline. It has both natural areas and parts built by people.
There's a special fishing pier that makes it easy for everyone to fish. This includes people who use wheelchairs.
Whalon Lake has a concrete ramp for boats. You can launch your boat easily here. Remember, only electric trolling motors are allowed on boats. This helps keep the lake quiet and clean.
| Activity | Is it allowed or available? |
|---|---|
| Boat fishing | Yes, but only with electric boat motors |
| Boat ramp | Yes, for launching your boat |
| Boat rental | Yes, you can rent boats here |
| Skiing | No, water skiing is not allowed |
| Swimming | No, swimming is not allowed |
| Camping | No, you cannot camp here |
Explore Whalon Lake Trails
Whalon Lake has a great paved path that is 3.71 miles long. This path is part of the larger DuPage River Trail. You can use this trail for many activities. It's perfect for biking, walking, running, and even cross-country skiing in winter. You can also go snowshoeing or inline skating.
Lake Activities: Fishing Fun
Whalon Lake is a great place to go fishing! You can find many different kinds of fish here. Some of the fish you might catch include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. You might even catch a walleye!
Most of the lake's shoreline is open for fishing. There's also a fishing pier on the east side of the lake. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources helps manage the fish in the lake. They work with the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
Fishing Rules and Limits
To keep the lake healthy, there are some rules for fishing. These rules help make sure there are enough fish for everyone.
| Fish Type | Daily Limit |
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| All fish species | You can keep up to 3 fish per day |
Here are some specific rules for different types of fish:
| Fish Type | Limit Per Day | Minimum Size |
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| Largemouth bass | 1 | 18 inches or longer |
| Smallmouth bass | 1 | 18 inches or longer |
| Bluegill | 15 | No minimum size |
| Redear sunfish | 15 | No minimum size |
| Channel catfish | 3 | No minimum size |
| Walleye | 3 | 16 inches or longer |
