Prairie State Wire

The 2024 Illinois fall trout season will begin on Saturday, October 19 at various locations across the state. This includes 60 ponds, lakes, and streams. The early catch-and-release season will start on October 5, during which no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. on October 19. Anglers are allowed a daily catch limit of five trout.

All participants, including those in the early catch-and-release season, must possess an Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp. These can be obtained at IDNR license and permit locations such as bait shops, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets. They can also be purchased online using a credit card.

For detailed site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all sites open at 5 a.m. on opening day; therefore, anglers are advised to verify the opening time of their preferred sites before heading out.

The fall trout season is seen as an opportunity for families to engage in outdoor activities and enjoy fishing together. Online resources are available for those interested in taking kids fishing.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) reinstated its catchable trout program in 1994. This program is partially funded by sales of inland trout stamps. Each year, IDNR stocks over 80,000 rainbow trout in waters where fall season trout fishing is permitted. An additional 80,000 trout are stocked for the spring season starting each April.

For more information on the upcoming seasons and other fishing opportunities in Illinois, visit https://www.ifishillinois.org.

Below is a list of the locations scheduled to open for the 2024 fall trout season:

Northern Illinois:

- Hennepin Canal Parkway

- Axehead Lake

- Belleau Lake

- Busse Woods North Lake

- Green Lake

- Horsetail Lake

- Sag Quarry East

- Wolf Lake at William W. Powers State Recreation Area

- Grove Lake

- Pickerel Lake

- Silver Lake

- Apple River **

- Bird Park Quarry

- Rock Creek **

- Big Lake

- Sand Lake

- Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14

- Spring Grove Hatchery Pond

Ogle County:

- Pine Creek **

Rock Island County:

- Prospect Park Lake

Warren:

- Citizens Lake

- Centennial Park Pond

- Lake Strini

- Van Horn Woods

- Baumann Lake

Central Illinois:

- Siloam Springs State Park Lake **

- Gridley Lake **

- Kaufman Lake

- Manners Park Pond

- Casey Park Pond

Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond:

Charleston:

Weldon Springs:

Villa Grove West Lake:

Horton Lake ** :

Rock Springs Pond:

Beaver Dam lake:

Argyle lake: Argyle lake State Park Morgan lake at Nichols park Jacksonville**

Illinois Department of Transportation lake Springfield** Southwind park Springfield Washington park pond Springfield Forest park lagoon Shelbyville Mineral springs park lagoon Pekin Clear lake Kickapoo state recreation area

Southern Illinois: Patriot's park lake (Greenville old city lake) Crawford county conservation area pond Mount Vernon game farm pond Ferne Clyffe state park lake Madison county Belk park pond Wood river Highland old city lake Boston pond Stephen A Forbes state recreation area Fairgrounds pond Fort Massac state park Derby lake World shooting and recreational complex Sparta Randolph county state fish and wildlife area Jones lake Trout pond Saline county state fish and wildlife area Frank Holten state park main lake Jones park lake East St Louis Willow lake Peabody river king state fish and wildlife area** Beall woods lake Beall woods state park Sam Dale conservation area Trout pond