The 2025 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season will officially open Saturday, October 18th at 60 ponds, lakes, and streams across the state.
Early catch-and-release trout fishing opened this past weekend, but anglers are reminded that no trout may be taken from stocked sites until 5 a.m. on October 18th. The daily catch limit is five trout per angler.
All anglers must possess a valid Illinois fishing license and inland trout stamp, available at IDNR license and permit locations, including bait shops, sporting goods stores, and online through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.
Locally, trout fishing opportunities will be available at:
Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area Trout Pond (Wayne County)
Boston Pond and Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area (Marion County)
Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond (Jefferson County)
Beall Woods Lake at Beall Woods State Park (Wabash County)
Anglers should check individual site regulations and opening times before heading out.
The Illinois Catchable Trout Program, funded entirely through the sale of inland trout stamps, stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each fall and an additional 80,000 each spring for anglers to enjoy across the state.
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