April 23, 2024
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Fall trout season opens Oct. 16 in Illinois

No trout may be taken from stocked sites until season opens

By Shaw Local News Network

The 2021 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season will open Saturday, Oct. 16, at 59 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state, including at Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, La Salle, where this fisherman aimed for trout in this file photo.

The 2021 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season will open Oct. 16 at 59 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state.

An early opportunity at select trout sites — the Fall Catch-and-Release Fishing Season — will open Saturday. No trout may be kept during the catch and release fishing period, but anglers can keep a daily catch limit of daily catch five troutafter the opening of the regular season beginning Oct. 16.

The Illinois Catchable Trout Program is funded 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.

The fall trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing. Resources are available for Taking Kids Fishing at www.ifishillinois.org/Kids_Fishing/kidsfishing.html.

All anglers, including those who intend to release fish caught before Oct. 16, must have an Illinois fishing license and Inland Trout Stamp. Both are available at IDNR license and permit locations, as well as many bait shops, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. Participating locations can be found at the IDNR website at www.exploremoreil.com/agentlocator.

Fishing licenses and trout stamps also can be bought online by credit card online via the IDNR website www.exploremoreil.com.

For information about site regulations, anglers should contact individual locations that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Not all sites open at 5 a.m. opening day, so anglers are reminded to check the opening time of their favorite sites prior to the open date.

For information about trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities, check the website at www.ifishillinois.org.

2021 Illinois Fall Trout Locations

Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway

La Salle County: Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, La Salle