Fishing

Fishing in the lakes, ponds and streams of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County is enjoyed by tens of thousands of people each year. The District manages over 40 lakes for recreational sport fishing. Species found within District waters include largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish.

Rainbow trout are stocked twice each year, in spring and fall at three District lakes. Other sport fish are stocked on an annual schedule. The District receives hybrid sunfish and channel catfish through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban Fisheries Program, which also provides fishing instruction.

Some District waters allow use of private rowboats and canoes, while others offer boat concessions. Concessions also offer bait and food.

The Fishing Guide lists all fishing and boating locations, and all regulations and other information on fishing, including maps of 27 lakes, ponds, quarries, reservoirs and sloughs within the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The Guide is available here for downloading in Adobe® Acrobat™ PDF format. Printed copies of the Fishing Guide are available at the FPDCC Headquarters in River Forest and also our Nature Centers.

Click here to view Common Fishes of Cook County.

Or click to view the FPDCC Fishing Area chart here.

To view individual maps of the 27 fishing areas, displaying water depths and more information on FPDCC fishing waters, visit the Lake Maps page...

Fishing Regulations

The FPDCC works within the Illinois Department of Conservation to provide quality hook and lin fishing. Nearly all State rules and regulations hold true for fishing int the preserves. One exception is that bow and arrow fishing for rough fish is not permitted in the preserves. Also all waters in the forest preserves are designated FISH PRESERVES — fishermen are limited to two lines with no more than two hooks per line and no trolley lines.

A valid Illinois hook and line fishing license is required except for persons that are under 16, disabled or blind. In addtion, anyone required to have a valid fishing license must have a State Inland Trout Stamp when fishing for trout within the Forest Preserve District trout lakes.

There are no State regulations on daily limits, length limits and closed seasons concerning fishes found in forest preserve water, excluding five exceptions. These are: no more than 6 largemouth bass, walleye or channel catfish, regardless of size, may be taken in one day; no more than 3 northern pike may be taken in one day (and these must be 24 inches long, or longer); and no more than 5 trout may be taken in one day. Trout season is closed from March 15 to the first Saturday in April and from October 1 to the third Saturday in October. Use of minnow seine is not allowed except in the Des Plaines River for bait collecting.

Special Forest Preserve Regulations regarding size limits on bass and walleye are also imposed on designated waters of the District, and these special rules will be so posted. These experimental regulations are to prevent the excessive removal of undersized bass and walleye, and to improve the fishing thru protection of our major predator fish. We ask the fishing public to respect and obey these regulations on lakes so posted.

Ice Fishing is permitted on designated District lakes on a FISH AT YOUR OWN RISK basis. Ice conditions are not monitored by the District. Ice fishermen should check ice thickness before going out on any frozen body of water. A minimum of four inches of solid ice over the entire lake is recommended before individuals attempt ice fishing.

Illegal Actions

It is unlawful to release any fish (including minnows or goldfish) in any Cook County waters, except in the waters from which they were taken, without having first secured permission from the Conservation Department of the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

It is illegal to abandon, deposit or throw any wire, can, bottle, glass, paper, trash, rubbish, cardboard boxes, wood cartons, trees, parts of trees, brush or other insoluble material (including animal or vegetable material) into the waters or on the ice of any waters of the County, or in any place on the bank of waters in the County, where it shall be liable to be washed into the waters by storms, floods, or other causes.

Boating

General Restriction: No person shall bring into, use or navigate any boat, yacht, canoe, plastic, canvas or rubber raft, inner-tube, float-tube, sail-surf board or other watercraft upon any watercourse, lagoon, lake, pond or slough under the exclusive control of the Forest Preserve District, except at such place or places as may be provided or designated for such purpose by administrative order of the General Superintendent and in accordance with rules and regulations.

Motorboats Restricted: No person shall, at any time, bring any gasoline or other fuel-powered boat or outboard motor into or upon any of the waters under the exclusive control of the Board of Commissioners. Electric or battery-powered trolling motors shall not be used in or upon said waters except at such place or places as may be provided or designated for such purpose by administrative order of the General Superintendent of the Forest Preserve District.

No private watercraft is allowed on District waters, except as listed below under BOATING WATERS. (No private watercraft permitted on District waters overnight. No outboard or electric motors allowed on District waters except as listed.)

BOATING WATERS (Outboard Motors Allowed)

Visit the Lake Maps page for detailed maps displaying water depths and more information...

DesPlaines River: Wheeling, IL to Lemont, IL for all watercraft. One ramp at Plank Rd. Meadow which is located N. of Ogden Ave., just E. of First Ave. in Lyons, IL.

Little Calumet River: for all watercraft. Two ramps; one north of Jackson St., E. of Ashland Ave.; the other is S. of 131st St., W. of the Calumet Expressway.

BOATING WATERS (Electric Motors Only — No Outboard Motors on Watercraft)

Beck Lake: N. of Central Rd., E. of River Rd. Sailboats, canoes, and rowboats. Launching ramp available off of parking area.

Big Bend Lake: SW. corner of Golf and E. River Roads. Sailboats, canoes and rowboats. Launching ramp available off of parking area.

Busse Lake: S. of Higgins Rd. between I-290 (Rt. 53) and Arlington Hts. Rd. Sailboats, canoes, and rowboats are allowed in the South Pool and on the Main Lake. Access to ramps off of Higgins Rd. just E. of I-290 (Rt. 53). Boat rental.

Skokie Lagoons: N. of Willow Rd., S. of Lake-Cook Rd., E. of the Edens Expressway. Parking and launching ramp S. of Tower Rd., E. of the Edens. For Sailboats, canoes, and rowboats.

I & M Canal: Willow Springs area — enter at Willow Springs Rd. — Canoes only.

Powderhorn Lake: N. of Brainard Ave., E. of Burnham Ave. Sailboats, canoes and rowboats. Launching ramp off parking lot.

Maple Lake: S. of 95th St., W. of Willow Springs Rd. Rowboat rental — no private rowboats.

Saganashkee Slough: S. of 107th St., W. of Willow Springs Rd. Private canoes and rowboats. Launch from west parking lot only.

Tampier Lake: W. of Wolf Rd., S. of 131st St. Rowboat rental. Private canoes and rowboats. Launch ramp off of 131st St.

Turtlehead Lake: S. of 135th St. on W. side of Harlem Ave. Sailboats only.

DesPlaines River: Three carry-in launching areas; (1) Stony Ford, which is S. off of Joliet Rd., 1/2 mile W. of Harlem Ave.; (2) Columbia Woods off of Willow Springs Rd., just across river from Willow Springs, IL; (3) Lemont Landing off of Stevens St. in Lemont, IL.; (4) Allison Woods off of Milwaukee Ave., S. of Willow Rd.