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Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 21, 2023

Early Catch-and-Release Opportunity Scheduled October 7 at select sites (*see note below)

The 2023 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season opens Saturday, October 21st at 59 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

* Please note that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is warning anglers that warm weather will delay some early stockings this fall.

The early catch-and-release season, scheduled to open October 7th this year, will be stocked later than expected because of forecasted and observed warm water temperatures. Trout stocked in waters warmer than 70 degrees will experience high mortality. IDNR will stock the early catch-and-release sites as soon as water temperatures cool and will provide updates here, so please check back often!

Note: No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the regular fall season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 21. 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 at https://www.exploremoreil.com/agentlocator.

Fishing licenses and trout stamps also can be purchased by using a credit card online at https://www.exploremoreil.com/

For information about site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all of the fall trout sites listed below open at 5:00 a.m. on opening day. Anglers are reminded to check the opening time of their favorite trout fishing location prior to the open date.

IDNR reinstated its Catchable Trout Program in 1994. The program is 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.

2023 Illinois Fall Trout Locations

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

North Region

Central Region

South Region