The Fishing Guide lists all fishing and boating locations, and all regulations and other information, including maps of all lakes, ponds, quarries, reservoirs and sloughs open to fishing and boating 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 the FPDCC Fishing Area chart.
To view individual maps of the District’s fishing lakes, displaying water depths and more information on FPDCC fishing waters, visit the Lake Maps page. Or, if canoeing, visit the Canoe Trail page.
General Regulations: Permitted on designated water bodies: non-gasoline powered watercraft of either traditional construction, or multi-chambered inflatables with a factory installed floor and hull identification number, including sailboats, rowboats, canoes and kayaks. Radio controlled boats and floatplanes on designated lakes only.
All such watercraft must be registered and titled with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources or state of residence and must display registration in accordance with the regulations and laws of the State of Illinois or the state of residence. All watercraft must carry the appropriate personal floatation devices for that watercraft as dictated by Federal and state laws.
Motorboats Restricted: No person shall, at any time, bring any gasoline or other fuel powered boat or outboards into or upon any waters under exclusive control of the Board of Commissioners. Electric or battery powered trolling motors shall not be used in or upon 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.
Illegal Floatation Devices: It is illegal to use or bring into or upon any of the waters under the exclusive control of the Board of Commissioners; any watercraft or floatation devices other than those listed under the General Regulations above. Prohibited floatation devices include but are not limited to inner-tubes, fly-fishing float-tubes or pontoons, sail-surf boards, towables or inflatable pool toys, lounges or rafts.
BOATING WATERS
Visit the Lake Maps page for detailed maps displaying water depths and additional information.
No private watercraft is allowed on District waters, except as listed below. No private watercraft is permitted on District waters overnight.
ACCEPTABLE WATERCRAFT
Outboard Motors Allowed:
Des Plaines River: for all watercraft. One ramp located at Plank Road Meadow, Ogden Avenue and First Avenue, Lyons.
Little Calumet River: for all watercraft. Two ramps. Located: North of Jackson St. east of Ashland, Riverdale; south of 130th St., west of Ford Expressway, Chicago.
Electric Motors Only (gas motors must be removed from watercraft):
Beck Lake: canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats. Located: Central & River Road, Des Plaines.
Big Bend Lake: canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats. Located: East River Road south of Golf Road, Des Plaines.
Busse Lake: canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats permitted in Main Lake & South Pool, ramps in both. Boat rental at Main Lake. Located: Higgins Road & I-290, Elk Grove Village.
Des Plaines River: launch ramps at Allison Woods, Prospect Heights; Stony Ford, Lyons; Columbia Woods, Willow Springs; Lemont Landing, Lemont.
I & M Canal: Willow Springs area – enter at Willow Springs Rd. – Canoes only.
Maple Lake: rowboat rental, no private boats. Located: Wolf Road & 95th Street.
Powderhorn Lake: canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats. Located: Brainerd Ave. east of Burnham Ave., Chicago.
Saganashkee Slough: canoes, kayaks, rowboats; boat launch at west parking lot. Located: 107th Street, between Archer Ave. & Willow Springs Road.
Skokie Lagoons: canoes, kayaks, rowboats, sailboats; canoe/kayak rental. Located: between Dundee and Willow Roads, east of the Edens Expressway.
Tampier Lake: canoes, kayaks, rowboats; boat rental. Located: 131st Street, west of Wolf Road, Orland Park.
