Illinois fall trout fishing season set to open Oct. 19

The 2019 Illinois fall trout fishing season is scheduled to open Saturday, Oct. 19, at 57 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

The Illinois catchable trout program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps and through the Illinois Fish Management Fund.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR, notes that no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from Oct. 1 until the fall trout season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 19. 

Anyone attempting to take (harvest) trout before the legal harvest season opening will be issued citations.

IDNR advises that all anglers, including those who intend to release fish caught before Oct. 19, must have a valid fishing license and an inland trout stamp, unless they are under the age of 16, blind or disabled, or are an Illinois resident on leave from active duty in the armed forces. 

The daily catch limit for each angler is five trout.

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. 

Vendor locations can be found on the IDNR website at http://dnr.illinois.gov/DNRDirectMonitor/VendorListing.aspx.

Fishing licenses and trout stamps also can be purchased by using a credit card through DNR Direct online at the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov.

IDNR notes that not all fall trout sites open at 5 a.m. on opening day. Anglers are reminded to check the opening time of their favorite trout fishing location prior to the season. 

For more information about all site regulations, anglers are advised to contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout.

Illinois fall trout season locations in the South Region of the state follow, by county:

Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond.

Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake.

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

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

Randolph County: Randolph County Lake.

Saline County: Jones State Lake Pond.

Williamson County: Devils Kitchen Lake.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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