Guide To Great Trout Fishing Locations In Illinois

All about fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout in area lakes and streams.

Trout Lakes In The State
Available Trout Species
Top Trout Lures & Flies

Trout Waters

The Illinois Department Of Natural Resources stocks trout in approximately forty community parks and area lakes, including but not limited to Hennepin Canal Parkway, Axehead Lake, Wolf Lake, Green Lake, Belleau Lake, Horsetail Lake, Silver Lake, Apple River, Big Lake, Banana Lake, Sand Lake, Argyle Lake, Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, Pine Creek, Prospect Park Lake, Citizen's Lake, Busse Woods North Lake, Centennial Park Pond, Lake Strini, Siloam Springs State Park Lake, Gridley Lake, Manners Park Pond, Villa Grove West Lake, Horton Lake, Rock Springs Pond, Beaver Dam Lake, IDOT Lake, Washington Park Pond, Forest Park Lagoon, Mineral Springs Park Lagoon, Clear Lake, Patriot's Park Lake, Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond, Feme Clyffe State Park Lake, Highland Old City Lake, Boston Pond, Fairgrounds Pond, Derby Lake, Randolph County State Fish and Wildlife Area Lake, Jones Lake Trout Pond, Jones Park Lake, Willow Lake, Beall Woods Lake, Sam Dale Trout Pond and Devil's Kitchen Lake.

Trout Species In The State

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 31 lbs 6.72 oz

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 7 lbs 5 oz

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 36 lbs 11.5 oz

Lake trout

World record: 72 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 38 lbs 4 oz

Click the images and links above for species details.

Select the best trout lures and baits

Trout spinners, crankbaits and jerkbaits work well for shallow, reasonably active fish. Salmon eggs, worms and prepared baits will work at virtually all depths.

The state records for brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout were all caught in Lake Michigan.

Illinois State Record Trout

The state record rainbow trout was caught from Lake Michigan.

The state record brook trout was taken out of Lake Michigan.

The state record brown trout came from Lake Michigan.

The state record lake trout was caught in Lake Michigan.

Check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for stocking dates and details.

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Browns are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts.

Additional trout information

Trout Conservation
Trout Unlimited

Watch trout fishing videos to see trout anglers in action.

Trout locations and info, by state.

Learn the habits of trout

Trout are considered some of the most difficult fish to fool. Once you locate Illinois waters with a population of trout, the challenge becomes identifying trout flies and lures that will trigger strikes. Visit the trout fishing page to learn more about the habitat each of the trouts prefer.