Catchable Trout

Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season Opened at All Sites

Weather plays a role in stocking for Fall Trout Season

The 2025 Illinois Fall Trout Season opened throughout the state in Late October. Most sites were stocked in time for the usual October 18th opener, while 14 additional sites were stocked by October 25th.

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. 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, which begins each April.

For information about all site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all sites are open for trout catch-and-release season and not all sites open at 5 a.m. opening day.

The spring trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing. Resources are available for taking youth fishing. All anglers must have a fishing license and an 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 at here.

Fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased by using a credit card online at here.

2025 Illinois Fall Trout Locations

Adams County

Siloam Springs State Park Lake

Bond County

Patriot’s Park Lake (Greenville Old City Lake)

Bureau County

Hennepin Canal Parkway

Cass County

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

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

Champaign County

Kaufman Lake, Champaign Park District

Christian County

Manners Park Pond, Taylorville Park District

Clark County

Casey Park Pond, Casey

Coles County

Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston

Crawford County

Crawford County Conservation Area Pond

De Witt County

Weldon Springs, Weldon Springs State Park

Douglas County

Villa Grove West Lake

DuPage County

Grove Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
Pickerel Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District

Hancock County

Horton Lake, Nauvoo State Park

Jefferson County

Mount Vernon Veterans Memorial Park (note the site change from Mount Vernon Game Farm, which is undergoing renovations)

Jo Daviess County

Apple River, Apple River Canyon State Park

Johnson County

Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake

Kankakee County

Bird Park Quarry, Kankakee
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

Macon County

Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District

Macoupin County

Beaver Dam Lake, Beaver Dam Lake State Park

Madison County

Belk Park Pond, Wood River
Highland Old City Lake

Marion County

Boston Pond, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

Massac County

Fairgrounds Pond, Fort Massac State Park

McDonough County

Argyle Lake, Argyle Lake State Park

McHenry County

Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, Spring Grove
Lake Atwood, McHenry County Conservation District

Morgan County

Morgan Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville

Ogle County

Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park

Randolph County

Derby Lake, World Shooting and Recreational Complex, Sparta
Randolph County State Fish and Wildlife Area Lake

Rock Island County

Prospect Park Lake, Moline

Saline County

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

Sangamon County

Illinois Department of Transportation Lake, Springfield
Southwind Park, Springfield
Washington Park Pond, Springfield

Shelby County

Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville

St. Clair County

Frank Holten State Park Main Lake
Jones Park Lake, East St. Louis
Willow Lake at Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area

Tazewell County

Mineral Springs Park Lagoon, Pekin

Vermilion County

Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area

Wabash County

Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park

Warren

Citizens Lake, Monmouth

Wayne County

Sam Dale Conservation Area Trout Pond

Whiteside County

Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls, Coloma Park District

Will County

Lake Strini, Romeoville
Van Horn Woods, Plainfield

Winnebago County

Baumann Lake, Cherry Valley