When Fishing, What to Keep and What to Throw Back

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently announced its 2013 consumption advisories, which maps out advisories placed on specific fish in Illinois waters, according to a IDPH press release. 

The advisories specify how often people should eat certain sport fish. The Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program screens fish samples from approximately 40 bodies of water each year for contamination from 14 banned pesticides, industrial chemicals and methylmercury.

• IDPH 2013 Illinois Fish Advisory List 

“Fish can be an important part of a balanced diet and the advisories are not meant to discourage people from eating fish, but should be used as a guideline to help people decide the types of fish to eat, how often and how to prepare the fish to reduce possible contaminants," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck in the IDPH news release. 

In McHenry County, advisories have been issued for Lake in the Hills lakes and watersheds and Nippersink Creek. The IDPH details the types of fish people should watch for when fishing in Illinois waters and how often to consume those fish. 

The statewide mercury advisory cautions sensitive populations to eat no more than one meal per week of predator fish, including: Black Bass, (Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted) Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Saugeye, Sauger and Walleye.

Women beyond childbearing age and males older than 15 years of age may eat unlimited quantities of predator fish, with the exception of the fish caught from the 33 bodies of water that are on the special mercury advisory.

Lake in the Hills lakes and watersheds and Nippersink Creek are among the bodies of water on a special mercury advisory. 

“While nutritious and low in fat, contaminants may make some fish unsafe to eat except in limited quantities, particularly for women of childbearing age and young children," Hasbrouck said. 

Mercury is found throughout a fish’s muscle tissue (the edible part of the fish) rather than in the fat and skin, according to a McHenry County Department of Health press release.  Therefore, the only way to reduce mercury intake is to reduce the amount of contaminated fish eaten, according to the news release. 

Gone Fishing: Recreation Areas, Lake Open to Fishing

• Three Oaks Recreation Area is currently allowing shoreline fishing but ice fishing is not allowed, according to Three Oaks website. The rental marina is expected to open at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13 "pending the status of ice on the lake," according to the Three Oaks website. 
• You can check the status of McHenry County Conservation District fishing sites on the conservation district's website.
• The village of Lake in the Hills website has more information on fishing in the village.