The Illinois Stocked Trout Fishing Program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the fall season. Johnny has created a super guide to many of the trout fishing spots in Northern Illinois for stocked rainbow trout.
Johnny’ s Trout Fishing Guide:
26 Trout Fishing Places – Northern Illinois & Chicago Trout Fishing
I’ve made a guide to Northern Illinois – Chicago Area Trout Fishing. You can see all the links to trout fishing ponds, lakes and reservoirs including a few Illinois trout stream locations on my exclusive trout fishing tips map:
Illinois Stocked Trout Fishing Map – Chicago Area – Northern Region
Illinois Trout Fishing Opens Saturday, October 15
Catch-and-Release Early Fall Trout Fishing Opens, Saturday, October 1 at Select Sites*
The 2022 Illinois Fall Stocked Trout Fishing Season opens Saturday, October 15th, at more than 59 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.
The state of Illinois operates put and take trout fishing at the 59 locations, but rainbow trout are stocked at many more locations if you pay attention! Counties, park districts and cities also have trout stocking along with private clubs all over the state. Trout have been on the road swimming in trucks for several weeks on their way to ponds, reservoirs.
For anyone participating in this exciting fall season, have a copy of your Illinois Fishing License as well as the Inland Trout Stamp. The 2022 license is needed for anyone who is 16 years of age or older. If you are fishing with someone younger, you will be required to have your license if you are “assisting them”.
Another regulation you need to follow is that the limit for trout kept in 1 day is 5 trout. You can not return to a water and fish for more trout after taking them home. DNR is equipped with license-scanning equipment and they do catch people who return a second time. The fines for taking over the limit begin at $100 and can quickly climb to $2,500. The conservation officers have the greatest amount of power including the ability to seize your fishing tackle, your vehicle and boat. It is highly advised that you stay within the catch and possession limit. Their technology and the ability to catch offenders has greatly improved. They will catch you.
Catch-and-Release Trout Fishing
An early opportunity at select trout sites — the Fall Catch-and-Release Fishing Season — has opened on Saturday, October 1 at locations marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below. No trout can be kept during the catch-and-release fishing period. Note: No trout may be taken away from (or kept) from any of the stocked sites from October 1st until the fall trout season opens at 5:00 AM on October 15.
The Illinois Catchable Trout Program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the fall season. During the season, the daily catch limit is 5 trout per person, per day.
All anglers — including those who intend to release fish caught before October 15 — must have a valid fishing license and an Inland Trout Stamp, unless they are under the age of 16, blind or disabled, or are an Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the Armed Forces.
Illinois fishing licenses and Inland Trout Stamps are available at IDNR license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. Check the IDNR website for locations at https://www.exploremoreil.com/agentlocator.
Fishing licenses and trout stamps also can be purchased by using a credit card online at https://www.exploremoreil.com/
For information about site regulations, anyone fishing should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all of the fall trout sites listed below open at 5:00 AM on opening day. Those fishing are reminded to check the opening time of their favorite trout fishing location prior to the season.
2022 Illinois Fall Fishing Locations
(* Denotes sites open for catch-and-release early fall season fishing)
North Region – Chicago Area Stocked Trout Fishing Locations
Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway
Cook County: Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Cook County: Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Cook County: Busse Woods North Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Cook County: Green Lake in Calumet City, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Cook County: Horsetail Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Cook County: Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District
Cook County: Wolf Lake, William W. Powers State Recreation Area, Chicago
DuPage County: Grove Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
DuPage County: Pickerel Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
DuPage County: Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
Jo Daviess County: Apple River, Apple River State Park *
Kankakee County: Bird Park Quarry, Kankakee
Kankakee County: Rock Creek, Kankakee River State Park *
Kendall County: Big Lake, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Lake County: Sand Lake, Illinois Beach State Park
LaSalle County: Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, LaSalle
McHenry County: Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, Spring Grove
Ogle County: Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park *
Rock Island County: Prospect Park, Moline
Warren County: Citizen’s Lake, Monmouth
Whiteside County: Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls, Coloma Park District
Will County: Lake Strini, Romeoville
Will County: Van Horn Woods, Plainfield
Winnebago County: Baumann Lake, Cherry Valley
Check back for Johnny’s ultimate stocked trout fishing setup!! Catches on the toughest bite days when others can’t. Hint – gear up here in time for trout fishing: Best Stocked Trout Fishing Tackle
