Illinois e-News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

Media contact: [email protected]

SPRINGFIELD – The 2025 Illinois fall trout fishing season will open Saturday, Oct. 18 at 60 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

Early fall catch-and-release trout fishing will open at select sites on Oct. 4. No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 18. The daily catch limit is five trout.

All anglers 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 agent locator website for locations. The public can purchase fishing licenses and trout stamps online.

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. An additional 80,000 trout are stocked for the spring season that begins each April.

For information about site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Anglers are reminded to check the opening time of the sites prior to the opening date. 

The fall trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing. Resources are available for taking kids fishing online. For more information on trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities, visit www.ifishillinois.org.

The 60 locations scheduled to be open for the fall trout season are listed below:

(** Denotes sites open for catch-and-release early fall season fishing.)

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

Sand Lake, Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, LaSalle

Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, Spring Grove

Lake Atwood, McHenry County Conservation District

Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park**

Prospect Park Lake, Moline

Citizens 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 Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville**

Illinois Department of Transportation 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

Highland Old City Lake

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

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is celebrating 100 years of conservation and service to the people of Illinois throughout 2025. The department was established July 1, 1925, as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes.

Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov for more information.