Des Plaines River

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Des Plaines River

©Illinois State Water Survey

Location: The Des Plaines River, the longest stream within the Chicago region, flows southward for 133 miles (105 miles in Illinois) through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It eventually meets the Kankakee River southwest of Joliet to form the Illinois River, a significant tributary of the Mississippi River.

Des Plaines River Fishery Facts

(Click on image for expanded view.)

Description: At its widest point, the Des Plaines River is approximately 180 feet wide. The narrower sections are closer to 30 feet wide. The average width of the river is between 40 and 100 feet. Depth varies from location to location, but the average depth of the Des Plaines River is 3 feet during normal water levels.

The Des Plaines River is easily fished from shore, canoe/kayak or by wading. Much of the bottom is a combination of rock and silt, so care should be taken when wading.

Fishing Forecast:

Species	Rank	Fish Status
BLUEGILL	Good
CARP	Good
CRAPPIE	Good
LARGEMOUTH BASS	Good	Largemouth bass are taken most frequently in the main channel border and lake habitats.
NORTHERN PIKE	Excellent	Northern Pike are the primary sport fish in the upper Des Plaines River, commonly caught on spinnerbaits. Concentrate on fallen timber, eddies, current breaks and drop-offs.
ROCK BASS	Good
SMALLMOUTH BASS	Fair	Smallies are present, but not common
WALLEYE	Fair	Walleye are present, but not common and are more prominent in the lower Des Plaines River.

Note: The upper Des Plaines River runs primarily through forest preserve property of Cook County, IL and Lake County, IL. Much of the shoreline is on property owned by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Some portions do run through land that is not publicly owned so please be aware of signs indicating private property. There are many access points on the river, as well as Kayak/Canoe launch points:

Click on image for expanded view.

River Access Areas

Van Patton Woods (near Wadsworth, IL)
Independence Grove (near Libertyville, IL)
Adler Memorial Park (near Libertyville, IL)
Riverside Park (near Libertyville, IL)
Red Top Park (near Libertyville, IL)
Half Day Forest Preserve (near Vernon Hills, IL)
Spring Lake Park (near Lincolnshire, IL)
Potawatomi Wood s(near Wheeling and Northbrook, IL)
Dam #1 Woods (near Wheeling, IL)
Allison Woods (Northbrook, IL)
Lake Avenue Woods – East (near Glenview and Mt. Prospect, IL)
Dam #2 Woods (near Mt. Prospect, IL)
Big Bend Lake (near Des Plaines, IL)
Northwestern Woods (near Des Plaines, IL)
Campground Road Woods (Des Plaines, IL)
Iroquois Woods/Touhy Dam (Park Ridge, IL)
Dam #4 Woods East (Park Ridge, IL)
Robinson Woods (Near Chicago, Rosemont, and Schiller Park, IL)
Schiller Woods (near Chicago and Schiller, Park, IL)
Thatcher Woods (near River Forest, IL)

Canoe/Kayak launch areas

Van Patton Woods Canoe Launch
Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch
Independence Grove Canoe Launch
Oak Spring Canoe Launch
Rt. 60 Canoe Launch Launch
Dam #2 Canoe Launch
Irving Park Launch

Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area Information

2017 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date	End Date (if different from start)	ID	Ramp Location	Bank/Boat Hook/Bow	Max Boats	Species	Public?
July-23		6382	Big Basin	boat hook	8	Largemouth Bass	No
July-23		7147	Big Basin	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
July-26		4580	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
July-30		6059	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-01		6604	Big Basin	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-02		4305	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-06		4292	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-09		4306	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-09		4581	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-13		4331	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-13		4563	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-15		6605	Big Basin	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-16		4308	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-20		5776	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass	Yes
August-23		4309	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-23		4582	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-29		6606	Big Basin	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
August-30		4312	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
September-10		4333	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
September-10		6945	Big Basin	boat hook	10	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
September-12		6607	Big Basin	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
September-17		4593	Harborside Marina	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
September-24		4286	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
September-26		6608	Big Basin	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
October-01		4382	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
October-08		4335	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
October-14		6609	Three Rivers Marina	boat hook	20	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
October-15		4568	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
October-22		5778	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass	Yes
November-05		4572	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes

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Des Plaines River

Fishing Forecast:

Species

Rank

Fish Status