Hennepin & Hopper lakes: Reopen to fishing Tuesday

A special public fishing season at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes will begin September 1, run through September 27 August 27, 2015 — The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) announced that fishing at its Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes will be open to the public six days per week for four weeks beginning Tuesday, September 1, 2015. It took much longer than we expected to get all the sign-offs needed in Springfield, said TWI Executive Director Paul Botts. That only finally occurred this month. We were planning to have fishing open until mid-September, but will push that date back just for this year because it’s taken so long to get all the t’s crossed. Anglers wishing to fish at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge will need a TWI permit; applications will be available starting September 1 at the kiosk by the boat launch at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes. No fee will be charged by TWI. Anglers older than 16 must also have a valid State of Illinois Sport Fishing License. Fishing will be open Tuesday through Sunday from sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset; the lakes will be closed to fishing on Mondays. Under TWI’s agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which has worked with TWI to restock the lakes, state conservation officers will conduct spot checks of permits, licenses, and compliance with size and creel limits and other rules, Botts said. The full rules can be found on TWI’s website (www.wetlands-initiative.org). Some key rules include:  No gas-powered motors are allowed on the lakes. Only electric trolling motors are allowed.  Fishing will be allowed from boats only. No shore fishing is allowed.  No live bait is allowed except for red worms, wax worms, and night crawlers.  Fishing is allowed only within the designated fishing zone in the south part of the lakes.  No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the lakes at any time.  The parking lot by the boat launch is limited to a maximum of 40 vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis. When the boat launch parking lot is full no more boats will be allowed onto the lakes for fishing. Size and creel limits for Hennepin & Hopper Lakes during 2015 will be as follows (all species not listed must be released): Species Minimum Size Maximum Number Bluegills and Pumpkinseeds Any size No limit Crappie (all types combined) 9 20 Largemouth Bass 15 3 Walleye 18 3 Muskie 42 1 Northern Pike 24 3 Channel Catfish Any size 6