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.

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.

Fisheries Fact Sheet

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Basin Report:

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Species	Rank	Fish Status
BLUEGILL	Good	Although widespread throughout the Des Plaines, abundance was higher at the upstream, lower gradient locations, particularly at Wadsworth and Belvidere Roads. However, quality-sized fish made up only 12% of the catch.
ROCK BASS	Good	Catch rates throughout the river were 20 fish/hr. Highest catch rates were found at the former Dam #2, Riverside and Lemont road.
SAUGER	Good	IDNR has stocked an average of 19,000 2-inch fingerlings per year since 2000, primarily in the lower river. Catch rates ranged from 4-21/hr in higher gradient areas, with fish ranging from 6-19" in length.
SMALLMOUTH BASS	Fair	Catch rate was over 120/hr in 2020 at Isle La Cache, near Romeoville - a record high for the Des Plaines River. All size classes were present with 15/hr in the 14 - 16" size range. Young-of-the-year were abundant indicating very good reproduction, which was a first for the previously degraded 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:

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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

Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date	ID	Approval	Ramp Location	Bank/Boat Hook/Bow	Max Boats	Species	Youth?	Open to Public?
July-24	27926	Approved	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
July-27	27607	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo	No	Yes
July-31	27927	Approved	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
August-03	27276	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
August-07	27928	Approved	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
August-10	27362	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-14	27929	Approved	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
August-17	28139	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
August-23	27452	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	No
August-24	27232	Approved	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes	Yes
August-24	27298	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	40	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	No
August-28	27930	Approved	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
September-06	27359	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-06	28956	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
September-07	27357	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No	Yes
September-07	28957	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
September-14	27278	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-04	29231	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-05	29232	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-11	27661	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-11 *October-12	27912	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-18	29233	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-19	29234	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-25	27662	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
October-26	27246	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes	No
November-01	27663	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
November-02	27584	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes
November-15	27664	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No	Yes

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