Northern Illinois Urban and Community Fishing Program Schedule
We have had a very busy June and July at our FREE fishing clinics and the fun continues with the announcement of our August fishing clinics scheduled for our Northern Illinois counties. 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.
August 2025 Northern Illinois Fishing Clinics (listed by county):
COOK COUNTY
Site: Beaver Pond Park
Address: 725 Braintree Lane, Bartlett, IL 60103
Date/s: Tuesday, August 12th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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. Bait, tackle and instruction provided at no cost.
KANE COUNTY
Site: Oakhurst Forest Preserve
Address: 120 Cloverdale Ln, Schaumburg, Illinois 60194
Date: Tuesday, August 5th
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 Kane County Forest Preserve 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, August 15th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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, August 1st; Friday, August 15th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Wednesday, August 13th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: The Hollows (Lake Atwood)
Address: 3804 US-14, Cary, IL 60013
Date/s: Friday, August 8th; Friday, August 24th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: McHenry Dam
Address: McHenry Dam Road, McHenry, IL 60051
Date/s: Thursday, August 14th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Algonquin Dam/Cornish Park
Address: 101 S Harrison St, Algonquin, IL 60102
Dates: Thursday, August 21st
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Hoffman Park
Address: 23 Montclair Dr, Cary, IL 60013
Date/s: Wednesday, August 13th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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:Wednesday, August 6th; Wednesday, August 20th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Butterworth Park
Address: 1400 23rd Ave, East Moline, IL 61244
Dates: Wednesday, August 6th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Prospect Park
Address: 1584 34th Ave, Moline, IL 61265
Dates: Tuesday, August 5th; Tuesday, August 12th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Riverside Park
Address: 3300 5th Ave, Moline, IL 61265
Dates: Thursday, August 14th
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Thursday, August 7th
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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.
STEPHENSON COUNTY
Site: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park
Address:
Dates: Friday, August 1st; Friday, August 15th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Four Lakes Forest Preserve
Address: 10207 Fish Hatchery Rd, Pecatonica, IL 61063
Dates: Wednesday, August 6th
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Rock Cut Kid's Pond
Address: 923M+5G, Loves Park, IL 61111
Dates: Friday, August 8th; Friday, August 22nd
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: Levings Lake
Address: 1420 S. Pierpont Ave. Rockford, IL, 61101
Dates: Thursday, August 7th; Thursday, August 21st
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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: Baumann Park
Address: 101 E State St, Cherry Valley, IL 61016
Dates: Thursday, August 14th
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Tackle required (Y/N) : No. Bait (worms), tackle (spincast rods & reels, bobbers, hooks, sinkers) and instruction provided. 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.
