Illinois spring trout season opens at select locations in April

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Pack your lures and grab your fishing gear because Illinois’ spring trout fishing season is coming up.

On March 22, the spring catch-and-release fishing season will begin at select trout sites. No trout can be kept at this time, but anglers can keep trout after the regular season opens on April 5. The daily limit for each angler is five trout.

The IDNR emphasized that for the 2025 spring trout season, no trout may be taken from any stocked sites between March 15 and the season opening at 5 a.m. April 5. Anyone who tries to harvest trout before the legal harvest season opening will be issued citations. 

For more information about all site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. Some sites may not open for catch-and-release season and not of the sites open at 5 a.m. on the first day. 

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks over 50 ponds, lakes and streams in the state with more than 80,000 rainbow trout each spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be added for fall trout season, beginning in October.

All anglers must have a fishing license and inland trout stamp, unless they’re under 16, blind or disabled, or an Illinois resident on leave from active duty. Visit the IDNR’s website for more information on fishing opportunities.

New this year in Central Illinois:

• In Macon County, spring and fall trout will continue to be stocked in Cattail Pond at Rock Springs Nature Center and not at Sportsmans Club Pond.  

2025 Illinois Spring Trout Locations in Central Illinois:

(** Indicates sites open for catch-and-release early spring season fishing)

Adams County

• Siloam Springs State Park Lake **

Cass County

• Gridley Lake, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area **

Champaign County

• Kaufman Lake, Champaign Park District
• Lake of the Woods, Champaign County Forest Preserve District

Christian County

• Manners Park, Taylorville Park District

Clark County

• Casey Park Pond, Casey

Coles County

• Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond, Charleston

DeWitt County

• Weldon Springs, Weldon Springs State Park

Hancock County

• Horton Lake, Nauvoo State Park **

Macon County

• Rock Springs Cattail Pond, Macon County Conservation District

McLean County

• Miller Park Lake, Bloomington

Morgan County

• Morgan Lake at Nichols Park, Jacksonville **

Moultrie County

• Wyman Lake, Sullivan

Pike County

• King Park Pond

Sangamon County

• Illinois Department of Transportation Lake, Springfield **
• Southwind Park, Springfield
• Washington Park Pond, Springfield

Shelby County

• Forest Park Lagoon, Shelbyville

Vermilion County

• Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area