SPRINGFIELD – The 2021 Illinois Fall Trout Fishing Season will open Saturday, 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 – opened Oct. 2. No trout may be kept during the catch and release fishing period, but anglers can keep trout after 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 (IDNR) 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.

For the 2021 fall trout season, no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 16. During the season, the daily catch limit is five trout.

The fall trout season offers opportunities for families to get outdoors and enjoy fishing. Resources are available for Taking Kids Fishing at https://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 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 can be purchased by using a credit card online via the IDNR website at https://www.exploremoreil.com/

Participants in the Fall Trout Fishing Season are reminded to follow current guidance from the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health regarding face masks and social distancing.

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

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

Area locations scheduled to be open for the fall trout season include:

• Bureau County - Hennepin Canal Parkway
• Kendall County - Big Lake, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA)
• LaSalle County - Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 14, LaSalle
• Ogle County - Pine Creek, White Pines Forest State Park **
• Whiteside County - Centennial Park Pond, Rock Falls, Coloma Park District

(** Denotes sites open for Catch-and-Release Early Fall Season fishing)