Des Plaines River

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Des Plaines River

©Illinois State Water Survey

Location: The Des Plaines River, the longest stream within the Chicago region, flows southward for 133 miles (105 miles in Illinois) through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It eventually meets the Kankakee River southwest of Joliet to form the Illinois River, a significant tributary of the Mississippi River.

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.

Fisheries Fact Sheet

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Basin Report:

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Species	Rank	Fish Status
BLUEGILL	Good	Although widespread throughout the Des Plaines, abundance was higher at the upstream, lower gradient locations, particularly at Wadsworth and Belvidere Roads. However, quality-sized fish made up only 12% of the catch.
ROCK BASS	Good	Catch rates throughout the river were 20 fish/hr. Highest catch rates were found at the former Dam #2, Riverside and Lemont road.
SAUGER	Good	IDNR has stocked an average of 19,000 2-inch fingerlings per year since 2000, primarily in the lower river. Catch rates ranged from 4-21/hr in higher gradient areas, with fish ranging from 6-19" in length.
SMALLMOUTH BASS	Fair	Catch rate was over 120/hr in 2020 at Isle La Cache, near Romeoville - a record high for the Des Plaines River. All size classes were present with 15/hr in the 14 - 16" size range. Young-of-the-year were abundant indicating very good reproduction, which was a first for the previously degraded river.

Note: The upper Des Plaines River runs primarily through forest preserve property of Cook County, IL and Lake County, IL. 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:

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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

Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area Information

Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2026 Approved Tournaments
Start Date	ID	Open to Public?	Approval	Ramp Location	Bank/Boat Hook/Bow	Max Boats	Species	Youth?
November-15	27664	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
March-14	29732	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
March-21	29733	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
March-28	29734	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
April-11	29740	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
April-11	29743	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No
April-12	30090	No	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	15	Largemouth Bass	No
April-19	29433	Yes	Pending	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	75	Largemouth Bass	Yes
April-25	29741	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass	No
May-02	29486	Yes	Pending	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes
May-03	30049	Yes	Pending	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes
May-03	29312	Yes	Pending	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
May-24	29356	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
May-24	29391	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
May-31	29451	No	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
June-07	29364	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
June-14	29376	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
June-14	29384	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass	No
June-28	29525	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	75	Largemouth Bass	No
July-12	29355	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
July-12	29413	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
July-19	29379	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
July-26	29344	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
July-26	29426	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
August-09	29326	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
August-09	29445	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
August-16	29390	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
August-30	29447	Yes	Pending	Des Plaines SFWA	boat hook	80	Largemouth Bass	Yes
September-06	29313	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
September-06	29462	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
September-13	29401	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	50	Largemouth Bass	No
September-20	29306	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
September-20	29479	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-10	29292	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-10 *October-11	29507	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-10	29745	Yes	Pending	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-11	29287	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	25	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-17	29746	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
October-18	29381	No	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	Yes
October-24	29748	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
November-07	29749	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
November-14	29751	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No
November-21	29750	Yes	Approved	Big Basin	boat hook	30	Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass	No

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