The 2016 Illinois spring trout fishing season opens on Saturday, April 2 at 50 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. When the regular season begins, anglers can keep rainbow trout for the table.
Fly fishing anglers can use fly fishing gear to catch and release trout beginning March 19 at nine selected sites. No trout may be kept during the fly fishing-only period.
No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from March 11 until the spring trout season opens at 5 a.m. on April 2.
The Illinois catchable trout program is funded entirely by those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps.
The IDNR stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season.
For more information on trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities, visit www.ifishillinois.org.
source: Illinois DNR