Welcome to I Fish Illinois—Illinois DNR Division of Fisheries

State Parks Open May 29th

Effective May 29, most IDNR sites will reopen to the public. However, historic sites that do not have outdoor acreage, or which typically offer indoor interpretive tours, will remain closed at this time. While normal park hours will resume, shelters, playgrounds and visitors centers will remain closed until further notice. Concessions will be open at all sites.

For more information, visit the IDNR information page here.

Tournament Directors: Please see this information regarding boating, fishing and tournaments from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Lake Sturgeon Alert!

We are getting reports of Lake Sturgeon in the tailwaters of some of the dams in the smaller tributary rivers to the Illinois River. They are highly susceptible to angling pressure when they migrate into these smaller rivers to spawn this time of year.

Anglers need to be aware that the Lake Sturgeon is a state-endangered species and protected by law. The Lake Sturgeon may not be harvested by any means in the state of Illinois. If one is caught, it must be released immediately. See more about Lake Sturgeon here.

Enhanced Contract Fishing Update!

The new Enhanced Contract Fishing program has removed 1,183,479 pounds of Asian Carp (Silver, Bighead, Grass and Black Carp) from the Illinois River's Peoria Pool! To support management goals and prevent spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes, the program provides $.10 per lb for Asian Carp caught in the Pool. 26 Illinois-licensed commercial fishermen currently participate in the program. View monthly catch totals here. IDNR also offers a bounty for Black Carp. Please see here for information on this program.

For more information about the Enhanced Contract Fishing Program, or to contact participants about fishing opportunities, sign up to fish for the program, or report any concerns, contact Gina Behnfeldt (215.702.4094, gina.behnfeldt@tetratech.com) or Kevin Irons (kevin.irons@illinois.gov, 217.557.0719).

Lake Michigan Program Newsletter

Newly released from the IDNR Division of Fisheries/Lake Michigan Program is a newsletter highlighting Lake Michigan fishing information and field sampling activities from 2019.

The newsletter covers salmon and trout stocking; forage abundance; sport fish harvest in Illinois waters; Yellow Perch abundance and recruitment; the ongoing lakewide coded-wire tag study; Lake Trout assessments and offshore reef mapping; and nearshore bass population assessments. Read the Newsletter.

REVISED — RFP for Asian Carp Brand Development, Limited Marketing Strategy & Implementation

UPDATE! The revised RFP is now available for Asian Carp Brand Development, Limited Marketing Strategy & Implementation. Subconsultant to IDNR and SIU, Tetra Tech is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to develop a new, positive brand for Asian carp and create a limited marketing strategy. We have combined funds for certain implementation activities and have increased the overall budget for the work. Further information regarding this RFP can be found here. Pre-Bid Meeting presentation can be found here.

A Question and Answers document can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to answer any fishing-related questions you may have. Simply send us an email through our "contact us" and we are happy to provide you with the information you're seeking. We also have a Frequently Asked Question page that you may find helpful. We've compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions via email and provided that information for you here. Check it out — you may learn something new about fishing in Illinois!

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

Remove, Drain, Dry: As the boats come out of storage, we'd like to remind you to be aware of invasive species that pose a threat to our lands and waterways. To fight the spread of aquatic invaders, the IDNR is asking residents to "be a hero transport zero." The best way to stop the spread of invasive species is to remove, drain, and dry your boats after use in any Illinois waterway. Learn more here.