Illinois announces dates for fall trout fishing season statewide

State Representative Jeff Keicher (IL) | Representative Jeff Keicher (R) 70th District

By DeKalb Times

Sep 30, 2024

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced that the 2024 Illinois fall trout season will commence on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 60 ponds, lakes, and streams across the state.

An early catch-and-release season is set to begin on Oct. 5 this year. During this period, no trout may be taken from any stocked sites until the regular fall season starts at 5 a.m. on Oct. 19. The daily catch limit is five trout.

All anglers participating in both the early catch-and-release and regular seasons must have an Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp. These can be obtained at IDNR license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets. Fishing licenses and trout stamps are also available for purchase online using a credit card.

For details about site-specific regulations, anglers should contact individual locations that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. It is important to note that not all sites open at 5 a.m. on opening day; therefore, anglers should verify the opening times of their preferred sites before heading out.

"The fall trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing," stated an IDNR representative. Online resources are available to assist those taking kids fishing.

The IDNR reinstated its catchable trout program in 1994, funded partly by users through the sale of inland trout stamps. Each year, over 80,000 rainbow trout are stocked in bodies of water where trout fishing is allowed during the fall season. An additional 80,000 trout are stocked for the spring season beginning each April.

For more information on Illinois' trout seasons and other fishing opportunities, visit https://www.ifishillinois.org.

Below is a list of locations scheduled to open for the 2024 fall trout season:

Northern Illinois

Bureau County

- Hennepin Canal Parkway

Cook County

- 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)