Wednesday, March 27, 2013
 
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Illinois' spring trout season opens April 6

Rainbow trout stocked at more than 40 locations throughout Illinois

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[March 27, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- The 2013 spring trout fishing season in Illinois will begin at 5 a.m. on April 6, according to Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller.

"Here in Illinois, we are committed to providing ways for families and children to get outdoors and enjoy nature, and the spring trout season is a great opportunity to do just that," Miller said. "Anglers of all ages can join in the fun as we stock trout at 42 locations throughout the state."

The IDNR stocks more than 60,000 rainbow trout each spring in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. The Illinois catchable trout program is fully funded through the sale of inland trout stamps to the anglers who participate.

Illinois fishing licenses and inland trout stamps are available at DNR Direct license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. For locations, check the IDNR website at this link: http://dnr.illinois.gov/DNRDirectMonitor/
VendorListing.aspx
.

Fishing licenses and trout stamps can also be purchased by using a credit card through DNR Direct online at www.dnr.illinois.gov, or by calling DNR Direct toll-free at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).

To legally participate in the trout fishing program, anglers must have a valid Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp. The annual fishing licenses for the 2013 season are valid through March 31, 2014. Anglers may also purchase a 24-hour Illinois fishing license, which includes trout fishing privileges for the 24-hour period the license is valid. As of July 1, anglers must also purchase an inland trout stamp with their 24-hour license to be valid for trout season.

A license is required for fishing in Illinois unless the angler is otherwise exempt -- under age 16, blind or disabled, or an Illinois resident on active military service who is home on leave.

Anglers may not take trout from any of the stocked sites until April 6 at 5 a.m. Anyone attempting to take trout before the legal opening will be issued citations. During the spring trout season the daily possession limit for trout is five fish.

While the statewide spring trout season opens at 5 a.m. on April 6, anglers are reminded to check in advance for any site-specific regulations and the opening time of their favorite trout fishing location.

For more information about the trout stocking program, contact the IDNR Division of Fisheries at 217-782-6424 or check the website at www.ifishillinois.org.

Anglers should note that the Mill Race Pond in Boone County will not be operational for the spring trout season this year due to a pond drawdown. In addition, one of three ponds at Gebhard Woods State Park will not be used for trout season this year. The other two ponds will receive the additional trout from that pond.

Stocked sites (by county) for the 2013 spring catchable trout program are listed below:

  • Adams County: Siloam Springs State Park Lake.

  • Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway.

  • Cass County: Gurney Road Pond at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area.

  • Champaign County: Lake of the Woods.

  • Christian County: Manners Park Pond, Taylorville Park District.

  • Cook County: Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District.

  • Cook County: Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District.

  • Cook County: Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District.

  • Coles County: Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond in Charleston.

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  • DuPage County: Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District.

  • Grundy County: Gebhard Woods State Park Pond.

  • Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond.

  • Jo Daviess County: Apple River and tributaries.

  • Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake.

  • Kankakee County: Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee.

  • Kankakee County: Rock Creek at Kankakee River State Park.

  • Kendall County: Big Lake at Silver Springs State Park.

  • Lake County: Banana Lake, Lake County Forest Preserve District.

  • Lake County: Sand Lake at Illinois Beach State Park.

  • LaSalle County: Illinois and Michigan Canal at Utica.

  • Macon County: Sportsman’s Club Pond, Macon County Conservation District.

  • Marion County: Boston Pond at Stephen A. Forbes State Park.

  • Massac County: Fairgrounds Pond in Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis.

  • McLean County: Miller Park, Bloomington Park District.

  • McHenry County: Lake Atwood, Hollows Conservation Area, McHenry County Conservation District.

  • McHenry County: Piscasaw Creek.

  • Moultrie County: Wyman Lake in Sullivan.

  • Ogle County: Pine Creek in White Pines State Forest.

  • Randolph County: Derby Lake at World Shooting and Recreational Complex, Sparta.

  • St. Clair County: Frank Holten State Park main lake.

  • St. Clair County: Jones Park Lake in East St. Louis.

  • Sangamon County: Southwind Park Pond in Springfield.

  • Sangamon County: Washington Park Pond in Springfield.

  • Shelby County: Forest Park Lagoon in Shelbyville.

  • Stephenson County: Waddams Creek (Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park).

  • Stephenson County: Yellow Creek in Krape Park, Freeport.

  • Vermilion County: Clear Lake at Kickapoo State Park.

  • Wabash County: Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park.

  • Wayne County: Sam Dale Conservation Area Trout Pond.

  • Whiteside County: Centennial Park Lake in Rock Falls, Coloma Park District.

  • Will County: Lake Milliken at Des Plaines Conservation Area.

  • Winnebago County: Four Lakes Forest Preserve, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District.

[Text from Illinois Department of Natural Resources file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

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