Welcome to I Fish Illinois—Illinois DNR Division of Fisheries

Illinois Free Fishing Days!

The 2025 Illinois Free Fishing Days celebration will take place June 13 – 16, coinciding with Father's Day weekend. During this four-day celebration of fishing in Illinois, anglers can fish without purchasing a fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp.

Discover the fun of fishing or introduce your kids to the outdoor adventure of fishing during these free fishing days! If you're new to fishing, here's a guide to everything you need to get started.

If you are part of an organization that is interested in hosting a Free Fishing Days Celebration, see the form here.

Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair

The 36th Annual Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair will be held Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 10AM to 4PM. This free Fishing Fair features catch-and-release fishing, casting stations, fishing instruction, information, and entertainment. The event is hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge, and Pere Marquette State park. This year will boast 30 outdoor educational activities, trout and bluegill ponds, free gifts and prizes, and so much more! Camo-the-Clown will again be there, along with Twisted Cat Outdoors, Jimmy Houston, the Mountain Man, Wildheart, and several other free shows!

This event if fun for the whole family and you won't want to miss out! Fishing poles, bait, and any other needed supplies are provided, and there is no need for a fishing license! See our page here for more information.

2025 Fishing Digest Available for Download Now

The 2025 Fishing Regulation Information Guide is now available for download. Going into effect April 1, 2025, here are a few things that are new for 2025:

  • Family Friendly Places to Fish section (pages 64–66), which highlights 12 family-friendly fishing locations throughout the state.
  • Regulation changes that are in green and highlighted for your favorite waterbodies.
  • Clarified bowfishing regulations.

Dowload your guide today, available in both English and Spanish. These guides will be distributed to retail stores soon.

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.

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!

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.