North Pond Fishing in Cook County, Illinois

• Overview

  North Pond lies within the bounds of Cook County, Illinois. The water sits 610 feet up. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. For a base, Lincoln Park sits 0.7 miles out. Further out sit Near North Side (1.9 miles) and Uptown (2.7 miles). Nearby alternatives: South Pond some 0.8 miles off, Humboldt Park at 3.6 miles, Spot 10 some 3.9 miles off, Schiller Pond at 11 miles and Park Lake some 13 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on North Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Cook County cover common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, gizzard shad and goldfish. The county list is broader than any single water. Read North Pond before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 24°F to 73°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid March. In an average year the thaw lands around mid March and the freeze near late December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on North Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The nearest marina is Diversey Harbor, some half a mile out. There is somewhere to leave the car, 140 yards off. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. A picnic spot sits 120 yards from the bank. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is South Pond, 0.8 miles out. For North Pond in particular, ask before you travel.