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SPRINGFIELD — Get your gear ready, Illinois anglers! The highly anticipated 2025 spring trout fishing season kicks off on Saturday, April 5, at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams across the state. It’s a perfect excuse to shake off winter and enjoy some fresh air while reeling in a few rainbow beauties.
Catch-and-Release Season Opens March 22
The 2025 Illinois spring trout catch-and-release fishing season will open at select sites on Saturday, March 22. The regular season will then begin in April at 58 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state. https://t.co/QqkGJXvUAL
— WTWO News (@wtwonews) March 18, 2025
For those itching to get out a little earlier, an exclusive catch-and-release season will start on Saturday, March 22 at select trout sites. Keep in mind, though — no trout can be kept during this early period. You’ll need to wait until April 5 to start bringing home your catch. Once the regular season hits, the daily limit is five trout per angler.
The Illinois Catchable Trout Program is made possible by funds collected from trout stamps, purchased by anglers who support the program.
Each spring, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout in approved waters according to I Fish Illinois. Another 80,000 trout are stocked in the fall, with the season beginning in October.
What’s New for 2025
There are a few updates for this year’s spring trout season that anglers should know about:
To protect the trout population and ensure fair play, it’s important to remember that no trout may be taken from stocked sites between March 15 and the official season opening on April 5 at 5 a.m. Anyone caught harvesting trout before the legal start time will be subject to citations.
A Fun, Family-Friendly Tradition
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The spring trout season is a fantastic opportunity for families and friends to get outdoors and spend quality time on the water. It’s also a great way to introduce younger anglers to fishing. The IDNR offers a variety of resources for getting youth involved in fishing — just visit ifishillinois.org for tips and advice.
Pro Tips for Opening Day
Before you head out, double-check the regulations at your chosen fishing spot. Not every location will be open for the early catch-and-release period, and not every site opens at 5 a.m. on opening day. It’s always best to call ahead and confirm details to avoid any surprises.
So, dust off that fishing gear, grab your license and trout stamp, and mark your calendar. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just getting started, the 2025 spring trout season in Illinois is set to be another exciting chapter in the state’s fishing tradition. Happy fishing!
Locations, Early Catch-and-Release Sites, and Updates
Region
County
Location
Early Catch-and-Release
Northern Illinois
Boone
Mill Race Ponds, Belvidere
No
Northern Illinois
Bureau
Hennepin Canal Parkway
No
Northern Illinois
Cook
Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
Cook
Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
Cook
Green Lake, Calumet City, Cook County Forest Preserve
No
Northern Illinois
Cook
Horsetail Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
Cook
Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
Cook
Wolf Lake, William W. Powers State Recreation Area
No
Northern Illinois
DuPage
Grove Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
DuPage
Pickerel Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
DuPage
Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District
No
Northern Illinois
Jo Daviess
Apple River, Apple River Canyon State Park
Yes
Northern Illinois
Kankakee
Bird Park Quarry, Kankakee
No
Northern Illinois
Kankakee
Rock Creek, Kankakee River State Park
Yes
Northern Illinois
Kendall
Big Lake, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
No
Northern Illinois
Lake
Sand Lake, Illinois Beach State Park
No
Northern Illinois
LaSalle
Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, LaSalle
No
Northern Illinois
LaSalle
Lake Mendota, Village of Mendota
No
Northern Illinois
McHenry
Rush Creek Pond, McHenry County Conservation District
No
Northern Illinois
McHenry
Piscasaw Creek, McHenry County Conservation District
No
Northern Illinois
Ogle
Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park
Yes
Northern Illinois
Rock Island
Prospect Park, Moline
No
Northern Illinois
Stephenson
Waddams Creek, Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park
No
Northern Illinois
Stephenson
Yellow Creek in Krape Park, Freeport
No
Northern Illinois
Whiteside
Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls
No
Northern Illinois
Will
Lake Milliken, Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area
No
Northern Illinois
Winnebago
Baumann Lake, Cherry Valley
No
Northern Illinois
Winnebago
Four Lakes, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District
No
Central Illinois
County
Location
Early Catch-and-Release
Adams
Siloam Springs State Park Lake
Yes
Cass
Gridley Lake, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish Area
Yes
Champaign
Kaufman Lake, Champaign Park District
No
Champaign
Lake of the Woods, Champaign County Forest Preserve
No
Christian
Manners Park, Taylorville Park District
No
Clark
Casey Park Pond, Casey
No
Coles
Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston
No
DeWitt
Weldon Springs, Weldon Springs State Park
No
Hancock
Horton Lake, Nauvoo State Park
Yes
Macon
Rock Springs Cattail Pond, Macon County Conservation
No
McLean
Miller Park Lake, Bloomington
No
Morgan
Morgan Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville
Yes
Moultrie
Wyman Lake, Sullivan
No
Pike
King Park Pond
No
Sangamon
Illinois DOT Lake, Springfield
Yes
Sangamon
Southwind Park, Springfield
No
Sangamon
Washington Park Pond, Springfield
No
Shelby
Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville
No
Vermilion
Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area
No
Southern Illinois
County
Location
Early Catch-and-Release
Jefferson
Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond
No
Johnson
Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake
No
Madison
Belk Park Pond, Wood River
No
Marion
Boston Pond, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area
No
Massac
Fairgrounds Pond, Fort Massac State Park
No
Randolph
Derby Lake, World Shooting and Recreational Complex
No
St. Clair
Main Lake, Frank Holten State Park
No
St. Clair
Jones Park Lake, East St. Louis
No
St. Clair
Willow Lake, Peabody River King State Fish Area
Yes
Wabash
Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park
No
Wayne
Turkey Run Shelter Pond, Sam Dale State Fish Area
No
