Illinois trout season

Fishing for trout is a pastime that can be enjoyed in waterways all over the state of Illinois. Anglers who plan on scouring various lakes and ponds for the popular catch will be able to by the end of October, but there are a number of rules and regulations that anyone fishing for trout will have to take into consideration. Doing your homework to ensure that you’re fishing properly in state waters will keep you on the right side of the law and away from any fines.

In Illinois, there will be 43 trout fishing locations that will be populated with catchable trout for fishermen. Many will open at the start of trout season, which begins this year at 5 AM on October 19. However, not all fishing sites will open their waters right at the start of the season. Those who want to find out about when a favorite spot will open up should contact the public parks authority that maintains the fishing area.

Anglers will need to obtain both a fishing license and trout fishing stamps before casting their lines. Residents and nonresidents alike can purchase these legal permits at any Illinois Department of Natural Resources office as well as online through the DNR’s official website. Sporting goods stores, bait shops and other retail establishments are also capable of providing these documents.

Trout fishing hotspots are fairly well spread out throughout Illinois, but some counties are home to more locations than others are. Cook County, which borders Lake Michigan and includes the state’s largest city of Chicago, is home to four different locations. Three of those four exist in the Cook County Forest Preserve District, a public parkland spanning more than 68,000 acres, or about 11 percent of the county’s total area. St. Clair County, in southwestern Illinois bordering the Missouri city of St. Louis, is home to three trout locations, including Jones Park Lake, Willow Lake and the Frank Holten State Recreation Area Lake.

Now that the trout and other fish are about to start biting, it’s a great time to get your old fishing rod ready or to purchase a new, custom rod that will completely alter your fishing experience for the better. When you want more control over your angling, give Signature Fishing Rods a call. We serve Illinois fishermen from all over the state.

–Jeff

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