New fishing rules proposed for Island Lake

Island Lake officials are considering restricting fishing on the town’s namesake lake to residents and their guests.

The proposal, being pushed by the village’s lake management committee, would toss out the current rules that allow catch-and-release fishing on Island Lake and replace them with new regulations.

Under the proposal, fishing from a boat or ice-fishing would be limited to village residents and guests accompanied by residents. The lake would remain open to anyone — resident or outsider — fishing from the shore, the proposed ordinance states.

Limits also would be established for the number and size of fish a person is allowed to catch.

The main goal, lake committee member Ken Wick said, is to prevent what he called ”the abusive over harvesting of fish.”

Island Lake residents’ taxes pay for the lake to be stocked with fish, so the committee’s loyalty should be to the village and its residents, Wick said.

The rules only would apply to Island Lake and not any of the village’s smaller lakes, which typically are privately maintained.

Anyone violating the rules would face fines ranging from $100 for a first offense to $1,000 for four or more tickets.

The village board will discuss the proposal when it meets Thursday night. That session is set for 7:30 p.m. at village hall, 3720 Greenleaf Ave.

A vote is not planned. Officials were preparing to vote, but comments from residents and outsiders about the proposal prompted more discussion, Trustee Mark Beeson said.

“We want to have the board discuss it some more and make sure there aren’t any misunderstandings,” Beeson said. “We’re just being cautious.”

Changes to the proposal still are possible, Beeson said.