Tri-State Outdoor News

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The 2009 spring trout fishing season in Illinois will begin at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller announced today.

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 made possible through the sale of inland trout stamps to those anglers who participate.

Inland trout stamps are available for $6.50 each at DNR Direct license and permit vendors, IDNR offices in Springfield, Chicago, Sterling, Bartlett, Clinton, Alton, and Benton. They may also be purchased with a credit card through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us or by phone 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 2009 season is valid through March 31, 2010. Anglers may also purchase a 24-hour Illinois fishing license, which includes trout fishing privileges for the 24-hour period the license is valid. A license is required for fishing in Illinois unless the angler is otherwise exempt (under age 16, blind or disabled, or is an Illinois resident on active military service who is home on leave).

Anglers may not take trout from any of the stocked sites from March 15 to the opening of the season on April 4 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.

Anglers are reminded to check in advance for any site-specific regulations and the opening time of their favorite trout fishing location. While the statewide spring trout season opens at 5 a.m. on April 4, some locations may have a later opening time. Southern Illinois counties stocked sites (by county) for the spring catchable trout program:

• Champaign County: Lake of the Woods.
• Christian County: Manners Park Pond, Taylorville Park District.
• Coles County: Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond in Charleston.
• Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake.
• 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.
• Moultrie County: Wyman Lake in Sullivan.
• 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: Illinois Department of Transportation Lake in Springfield.
• Sangamon County: Washington Park Pond in Springfield.
• Shelby County: Forest Park Lagoon in Shelbyville.
• 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.

For more information about the trout stocking program check the web site at www.ifishillinois.org.