Illinois fall trout season opens Oct. 19 statewide, catch-and-release season begins Oct. 5

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 2024 Illinois fall trout season will open October 19 at 60 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state.

The early catch-and-release season is scheduled to open October 5. No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. October 19. The daily catch limit is five trout.

All anglers, including those who participate in the early catch-and-release season, must have an Illinois fishing license and inland trout stamp, which are available at IDNR license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets. Check the IDNR website for locations. Fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased online with a credit card.

For information about all 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. Anglers are reminded to check the opening time of their favorite sites prior to the open date.

The fall trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing.

IDNR reinstated its catchable trout program in 1994, funded in part by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the fall season. An additional 80,000 trout are stocked for the spring season, which begins each April. For more information on trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities, visit ifishillinois.org.

The central Illinois locations scheduled to be open for the 2024 fall trout season are below.

(** Denotes sites open for catch-and-release early fall season fishing)

Central Illinois

Adams County

• Siloam Springs State Park Lake **

Cass County

• Gridley Lake, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area **

Champaign County

• Kaufman Lake, Champaign Park District

Christian County

• Manners Park Pond, Taylorville Park District

Clark County

• Casey Park Pond, Casey

Coles County

• Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston

De Witt County

• Weldon Springs, Weldon Springs State Park

Douglas County

• Villa Grove West Lake

Hancock County

• Horton Lake, Nauvoo State Park **

Macon County

• Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District

Macoupin County

• Beaver Dam Lake, Beaver Dam Lake State Park

McDonough County

• Argyle Lake, Argyle Lake State Park

Morgan County

• Morgan Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville **

Sangamon County

• Illinois Department of Transportation Lake, Springfield **
• Southwind Park, Springfield
• Washington Park Pond, Springfield

Shelby County

• Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville

Tazewell County

• Mineral Springs Park Lagoon, Pekin

Vermilion County

• Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area