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EVERGREEN LAKE


Lake Information

County: McLean

Acreage: 925

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? 10hp

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? Yes

Skiing? No

Swimming? Yes

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? Yes



East West


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    East, West

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There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Lake Status Summary  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

CRAPPIE

Good

The crappie fishery was once dominated by White Crappie, but since 2006 the Black Crappie population has been more prevalent in fish surveys and anglers’ creels. During the most recent electrofishing survey, approximately 29% of the White Crappie collected were larger than 10 inches. Approximately 7% of the Black Crappie collected were larger than 10 inches. Site Regulation: 15 fish daily limit; Only 5 ≥ 10"

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Good

The most recent bass survey resulted in a catch rate of 77.5 bass per hour and was below the management objective of 100 bass per hour. Of the bass collected over 8 inches, 34% of the bass collected were larger than 12 inches and 11% were longer than 15 inches. Evergreen Lake has an average bass fishery. Site Regulation: 3 fish daily limit; 15" length limit.

MUSKELLUNGE

Excellent

Evergreen Lake was first stocked with Muskie in 1990. During the most recent spring netting survey, 3.7 Muskie per net-night were collected with 20 net-nights of effort and the 15-survey average is 4 Muskie per net-night. Approximately 53% of the Muskie collected were large than 38 inches and 26% were larger than 42 inches. The largest Muskie collected in 2019 was just under 48 inches and weighed 39.3 pounds (current State Record is 38.5 pounds). Evergreen has an excellent Muskie fishery. Site Regulation: 1 fish daily limit; 48" length limit.

SAUGEYE (Walleye/Sauger Hybrid)

Excellent

Home of the current State Record Saugeye! The State Record Saugeye was caught in 2001. The saugeye is a hybrid made by crossing female Walleye with male Sauger. The Saugeye appear to have adapted quite well to Evergreen Lake. Stocking of this hybrid started in 1992 and the lake has been stocked every year since. The most recent night electrofishing survey resulted in a catch rate of 32 Saugeye per hour and was like the previous survey but was much less than the average catch rate of 71.3 for the past 8 surveys. The survey had the second highest catch rate of legal Saugeye. Even with the recent reduction in catch rates, Evergreen has an excellent Saugeye fishery. During the most recent spring netting survey, 5 Saugeye were collected per net-night. The 15-survey average is 5.5 Saugeye per net-night. Of the Saugeye collected over 10 inches, 100% were longer than 14 inches and 49% were over 18 inches. The largest Saugeye collected in 2018 weighed 10.6 pounds and a Saugeye collected in 2021 weighed 10.2 pounds (current state record is 9.68 pounds). Site Regulation: 3 fish daily limit; 18" length limit.

Location: Evergreen Lake is located approximately 15 miles North of Bloomington, Illinois and is easily accessible by taking I-39 North to the Lake Bloomington/Evergreen Lake Exit, then proceeding west on the Lake Bloomington Road (2500N).

Description: Evergreen Lake was built in 1970 to serve as a secondary water source for the City of Bloomington. The lake is owned by the City of Bloomington and is managed by the McLean County Department of Parks and Recreation. Evergreen Lake is part of Comlara County Park. The lake is 925 acres and has an average depth of 19.7 feet and a maximum depth of 50 feet. There are 2 boat launches on the lake and one canoe launch. Comlara County Park offers 137 campsites, a swimming beach, and showers. The Friends of Everbloom is an organization that assists with habitat projects and improving the quality of Evergreen Lake. To learn more about their organization, visit their web page http://friendsofeverbloom.weebly.com.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The IDNR currently stocks saugeye and muskie. A community-wide fish survey is completed approximately every two years, while muskie, saugeye, and largemouth bass surveys are currently conducted on an annual basis.

Additional Lake Information: County watercraft registration is required. There are 2 boat launches on the lake and one canoe launch. Comlara County Park offers 137 campsites, a swimming beach, and showers. Outboard motor size limit of 10 hp.

Two pole and line fishing only; no trot lines, jugs or bank poles. Sport anglers may take carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin and suckers by pitchfork, gigs, bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices.

Site Regulations:

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: 3 fish daily limit; 15" length limit
Walleye/Saugeye/Sauger: 3 fish daily limit; 18" length limit
Muskellunge: 1 fish daily limit; 48" length limit
Crappie: New in 2021 Only 5 ≥ 10", 15 daily fish limit

Contact Information:
McLean County Department of Parks and Recreation
309-434-6770
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Mike Garthaus
217-784-4730

There were 15 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2020.

Species Total Fish Caught
Bluegill 67
Crappie 170
Largemouth Bass 396
Walleye/Sauger Hybrid 1
White Bass 265

Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2020 tournaments:

1     5.35 lbs
2     5.32 lbs
3     5.19 lbs
4     5.15 lbs
5     5.06 lbs

Top 5 Bag Weights of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2020 tournaments:

1 218.93 lbs
2 179.99 lbs
3 146.74 lbs
4 120.75 lbs
5 64.56 lbs


Multiple day tournaments are listed with *end date and

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2020-2021 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date ID Approval Ramp Location Bank/Boat
Hook/Bow
Max Boats Species Youth? Open to Public?
April-0925997ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
April-2026554ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
35Largemouth Bass
No
April-2226331ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
No
April-2325998ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
April-2526332ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
No
April-2626669PendingMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
50Largemouth Bass
No
May-0226316ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
24Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
Yes
May-0725999ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
May-2126000ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-0125722Approved1200 E. Rd. Ramp boat
hook
20Crappie
Yes
June-0426001ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-1826002ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
June-3025664ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
No
July-2326003ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
August-0626004ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
August-2026005ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
September-0725723ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Crappie
Yes
September-1026006ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
September-2226549ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
No
October-1225665ApprovedMain Recreation Area Ramp boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
No