Welcome to I Fish Illinois—Illinois DNR Division of Fisheries

Illinois Lake Sturgeon Recovery Program

Lake Sturgeon are a state-endangered species and may not be harvested by any means in the State of Illinois. Due to the decline in Lake Sturgeon populations in most of its native range within the Mississippi River Basin (MRB) over the last century, several MRB states, including Illinois, have implementated recovery and management programs.

The IDNR Division of Fisheries acquired 11,000 Mississippi-strain juvenile Lake Sturgeon with the purpose of stocking Lake Sturgeon in the Illinois portions of the Mississippi River and its tributaries in 2023. The mission of the Illinois Lake Sturgeon Recovery Program is to re-establish a sustainable population of a state-endangered species in suitable waters within the State of Illinois. If this plan is successful, it could provide a new sport fishing opportunity to Illinois anglers in the future. Read more about this program here: Lake Sturgeon Recovery Program.

2025 Tournament Applications Accepted Beginning November 1, 2024

As of November 1, 2024, fishing tournament organizers can apply to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for 2025 fishing tournament permits using the INDR Tournament Permitting System. Applications are reviewed on a "first come, first served" basis. Last year, we had over 2500 applications for fishing tournaments in Illinois!

NOTE: For tournaments with fewer than 20 participants, tournament directors do not need to apply for an IDNR fishing tournament permit, but must contact the IDNR Site directly to confirm your tournament date at that IDNR Site. Additionally, The posting of results for your tournament is now optional. We appreciate all of those who post their results, but this is no longer a requirement for applying for new tournaments. In addition, we no longer request the top 3 fish weights, but rather a total fish count/weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to answer any fishing-related questions you may have. Simply send us an email through our "contact us" and we are happy to provide you with the information you're seeking. We also have a Frequently Asked Question page that you may find helpful. We've compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions via email and provided that information for you here. Check it out — you may learn something new about fishing in Illinois!

Muskie Creel Survey

Please help the Illinois DNR gain important information about Muskie caught in Illinois waters by reporting them to us via our Muskie Creel Survey Report Card.The information we gain from our anglers is invaluable. This survey is jointly sponsored by the Illini Muskies Alliance and the IDNR. Completing this form as soon as you can after your catch is much appreciated!

Some waters contain Muskie that have been tagged with a floy tag. Please call the number on these tags to report your catch. Information such as date of catch, length and weight of the fish, and whether or not the fish was harvested will be requested.

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

Remove, Drain, Dry: As the boats come out of storage, we'd like to remind you to be aware of invasive species that pose a threat to our lands and waterways. To fight the spread of aquatic invaders, the IDNR is asking residents to "be a hero transport zero." The best way to stop the spread of invasive species is to remove, drain, and dry your boats after use in any Illinois waterway. Learn more here.