Northern Illinois Urban and Community Fishing Program Schedule
We are excited to announce that FREE fishing clinics have been scheduled for our Northern Illinois counties for June of 2025. Summer clinics for July and August will be posted soon! These clinics are designed to get children and families "hooked on fishing" by teaching basic fishing skills and ethical angling practices, along with tips and tricks for catching common fish in your area.
These clinics will be offered in IDNR Regions 1 and 2, north of I-80. These regions includes cities surrounding Chicago, Rockford, Moline, Naperville and McHenry. These are drop-in clinics that require no registration and all are FREE of charge.
Are you interested in learning more about programs in other areas of the state? Please see our Urban and Community Fishing page.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have groups of 10 or more participants, please consider a registered, group program, as the clinics below are "drop in" and designed for individuals and families vs. large gatherings.
For more information about scheduling group fishing programs, please contact the Northern Illinois Urban and Community Fishing Program Coordinator Frank Sladek at Frank.Sladek@Illinois.gov.
June 2025 Northern Illinois Fishing Clinics (listed by county):
BOONE COUNTY
Site: Doty Park
Address: 365 W Locust St, Belvidere, IL 61008
Date/s: Wednesday, June 25th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
COOK COUNTY
Site: Gray Farm Pond
Address: 120 Cloverdale Ln, Schaumburg, Illinois 60194
Date: Wednesday, June 25th
Time: 5 pm to 8 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. Registered programs are available to groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open, evening fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with the Schaumburg Park District and the IDNR’s Urban and Community Fishing Program.
KENDALL COUNTY
Site: Silver Springs State Park (Loon Lake)
Address: 13608 Fox Rd, Yorkville, IL 60560
Date/s: Friday, June 13th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
LAKE COUNTY
Site: Illinois State Beach State Park (Sand Pond)
Address: 331 17th St, Zion, IL 60099
Date/s: Friday, June 13th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
LASALLE COUNTY
Site: Illini State Park (Mallard Bay)
Address: 2660 E 2350th Rd, Marseilles, IL 61341
Date/s: Tuesday, June 17th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
MCHENRY COUNTY
Site: Hoffman Park
Address: 23 Montclair Dr, Cary, IL 60013
Date/s: Wednesday, June 11th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
Site: Shamrock Hills
Address: 6204 Hillside Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60012
Date/s: Thursday, June 12th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
Site: Jaycee Park (Pavilion)
Address: 500 Northwest Hwy, Cary, IL 60013
Date/s: Tuesday, June 17th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
Site: Prospect Park
Address: 1584 34th Ave, Moline, IL 61265
Dates: Wednesday, June 11th , Wednesday, June 25th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
STEPHENSON COUNTY
Site: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park
Address:
Dates: Friday, June 13th, Friday, June 27th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Site: Rock Cut Kid's Pond
Address: 923M+5G, Loves Park, IL 61111
Dates: Friday, June 6th , Friday, June 27th
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
Site: Baumann Park
Address: 101 E State St, Cherry Valley, IL 61016
Dates: Wednesday, June 4th , Wednesday, June 11th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
Site: Sunset Park
Address: 199 Row, Rock Island, IL 61201
Dates: Wednesday, June 18th
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods/reels and basic tackle) and instruction provided at no cost. Participants can bring their own gear if desired.
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Audience: Families, adults and individuals with children under 16. No large groups. Registered programs are available for groups of 10+ individuals.
Description: Open fishing clinics for all ages. No registration required. Learn basic fishing skills (casting, knot tying, fish identification) and fun facts about local fish with an Urban and Community Fishing Program instructor.
