Des Plaines River
Info / Counties: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Lake, Multiple Counties, Will
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
No
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
None
Location 0 acres
| 2025 | Sauger | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 56326 |
| 2025 | Sauger | Not Specified | 1500000 |
| 2024 | Sauger | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 91589 |
| 2023 | Sauger | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 38197 |
Contact
Description
At its widest point, the Des Plaines River is approximately 180 feet wide. The narrower sections are closer to 30 feet wide. The average width of the river is between 40 and 100 feet. Depth varies from location to location, but the average depth of the Des Plaines River is 3 feet during normal water levels.The Des Plaines River is easily fished from shore, canoe/kayak or by wading. Much of the bottom is a combination of rock and silt, so care should be taken when wading.
Fishery History
Electrofishing surveys in 2018 yielded increased catch rates (fish/hour) for sportfish throughout the Des Plaines River. Fall collections in 2020 in the lower river segment upstream of the Brandon Lock and Dam were also very productive.Site Regulations
Statewide fishing regulations are enforced for the Des Plaines River, in addition to the site-specific regulations listed below.
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations (Des Plaines River from the former Hofmann Dam site to 47th Street Bridge, including tributaries):
- Channel Catfish: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: Catch and Release Fishing Only
- Northern Pike: 30 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Walleye, Sauger, or Walleye Hybrid: 18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Additional Information
The upper Des Plaines River runs primarily through forest preserve property of Cook County, Illinois and Lake County, Illinois. Much of the shoreline is on property owned by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Some portions do run through land that is not publicly owned so please be aware of signs indicating private property. There are many access points on the river, as well as kayak/canoe launch points:
River Access Areas:
Van Patton Woods (near Wadsworth, IL)
Independence Grove (near Libertyville, IL)
Adler Memorial Park (near Libertyville, IL)
Riverside Park (near Libertyville, IL)
Red Top Park (near Libertyville, IL)
Half Day Forest Preserve (near Vernon Hills, IL)
Spring Lake Park (near Lincolnshire, IL)
Potawatomi Wood s(near Wheeling and Northbrook, IL)
Dam #1 Woods (near Wheeling, IL)
Allison Woods (Northbrook, IL)
Lake Avenue Woods – East (near Glenview and Mt. Prospect, IL)
Dam #2 Woods (near Mt. Prospect, IL)
Big Bend Lake (near Des Plaines, IL)
Northwestern Woods (near Des Plaines, IL)
Campground Road Woods (Des Plaines, IL)
Iroquois Woods/Touhy Dam (Park Ridge, IL)
Dam #4 Woods East (Park Ridge, IL)
Robinson Woods (Near Chicago, Rosemont, and Schiller Park, IL)
Schiller Woods (near Chicago and Schiller, Park, IL)
Thatcher Woods (near River Forest, IL)
Canoe/Kayak Launch Areas:
Van Patton Woods Canoe Launch
Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch
Independence Grove Canoe Launch
Oak Spring Canoe Launch
Rt. 60 Canoe Launch Launch
Dam #2 Canoe Launch
Irving Park Launch