Illinois e-News Release

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023

SPRINGFIELD – The 2023 Illinois fall trout season will open Saturday, Oct. 21 at 59 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is warning anglers that warm weather will delay some early stockings this fall.

The early catch-and-release season, scheduled to open Oct. 7 this year, will be stocked later than expected because of forecasted and observed warm water temperatures. Trout stocked in waters warmer than 70 degrees will experience high mortality. IDNR will stock the early catch-and-release sites as soon as water temperatures cool and will provide updates on the ifishillinois.org website and social media channels for ifishillinois.org and IDNR.

No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 21. The daily catch limit is five trout.

All anglers, including those who participate in the early catch-and-release season, must have an Illinois fishing license and inland trout stamp, which 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. Fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased online with a credit card.

For information about all site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all sites open at 5 a.m. on opening day. Anglers are reminded to check the opening time of their favorite sites prior to the open date.

The fall trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing. Online resources are available for taking kids fishing.

IDNR reinstated its Catchable Trout Program in 1994. The program is funded in part by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the fall season. An additional 80,000 trout are stocked for the spring season, which begins each April. For more information on trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities, visit https://www.ifishillinois.org.

The 59 locations scheduled to be open for the 2023 fall trout season are below.

Hennepin Canal Parkway

Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Busse Woods North Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Green Lake in Calumet City, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Horsetail Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Wolf Lake at William W. Powers State Recreation Area, Chicago

Grove Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District

Pickerel Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District

Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District

Apple River, Apple River Canyon State Park **

Bird Park Quarry, Kankakee

Rock Creek, Kankakee River State Park **

Big Lake, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA)

Sand Lake, Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, LaSalle

Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, Spring Grove

Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park **

Prospect Park Lake, Moline

Citizen’s Lake, Monmouth

Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls, Coloma Park District

Lake Strini, Romeoville

Van Horn Woods, Plainfield

Baumann Lake, Cherry Valley

Siloam Springs State Park Lake **

Gridley Lake, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area **

Kaufman Lake, Champaign Park District

Manners Park Pond, Taylorville Park District

Casey Park Pond, Casey

Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston

Weldon Springs, Weldon Springs State Park

Villa Grove West Lake

Horton Lake, Nauvoo State Park **

Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District

Beaver Dam Lake, Beaver Dam Lake State Park

Argyle Lake, Argyle Lake State Park

Morgan County

Morgan Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville **

IDOT Lake, Springfield **

Southwind Park, Springfield

Washington Park Pond, Springfield

Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville

Mineral Springs Park Lagoon, Pekin

Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area

Patriot’s Park Lake (Greenville Old City Lake)

Crawford County Conservation Area Pond

Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond

Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake

Belk Park Pond, Wood River

Note: No trout will be stocked during the fall 2023 at Highland Old City Lake in Madison County due to ongoing maintenance. Stocking is expected to resume in fall 2024.

Boston Pond, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

Fairgrounds Pond, Fort Massac State Park

Derby Lake, World Shooting and Recreational Complex, Sparta

Randolph County State Fish and Wildlife Area Lake

Jones Lake Trout Pond, Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Frank Holten State Park Main Lake

Jones Park Lake, East St. Louis

Willow Lake at Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area**

Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park

Sam Dale Conservation Area Trout Pond