Fishing

Fishing in Illinois

Discover 127 state parks offering fishing in Illinois

🐟 Illinois Fishing License at a Glance

Resident Annual $16

Non-Resident Annual $31.50

Youth Under 16 free

Senior 65+ free

Trout Stamp $6.50

🎉 Free Fishing Days Father's Day weekend

Seniors fish FREE! Valid April 1–March 31.

Official Illinois Fishing Info →

License fees and free fishing days shown as of June 2026 — fees and dates change yearly. Always confirm current rates and free-fishing dates via the official link above before purchasing.

127 State Parks

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Illinois State Parks with Fishing

Apple River Canyon State Park

Argyle Lake State Park

Baldwin Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Banner Marsh (Illinois)

Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area

Beall Woods State Park

Bishop Hill State Historic Site

Buffalo Rock State Park

Hero image for Apple River Canyon State Park

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area

Cache River SNA

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

Carl Sandburg State Historic Site

Carlyle Lake (Illinois)

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

viewing platform at the top of Castle Rock State Park

Castle Rock State Park (Illinois)

Cave-in-Rock State Park

Chain O” Lakes (Illinois)

Chain O’Lakes State Park

+15

Channahon State Park

sun lighting the shore at a state park near champaign illinois

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Delabar State Park

Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area

Devils Island Wildlife Management Area

Dixon Springs State Park

Donnelley DePue (Illinois)

Donnelley/Depue State Park

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area

Eagle Creek State Park

Edward R. Madigan State Park

Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Fort Defiance State Park

Fort Massac State Park

Fox Ridge State Park

Frank Holten State Park

Franklin Creek State Natural Area

Gebhard Woods State Park

Golconda Marina (Illinois)

Harry ”Babe” Woodyard (Illinois)

Heidecke Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Hennepin Canal State Park

Hidden Springs (Illinois)

Hidden Springs State Forest

Horseshoe Lake State Park

Illini State Park

Illinois and Michigan Canal (Illinois)

Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois Caverns (Illinois)

James Pate Philip State Park

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area

Jubilee College State Park

Kankakee River State Park

Kankakee State Park

Kaskaskia River State Fish & Wildlife Area

boat landing at a state recreation area near champaign illinois

Kickapoo State Recreation Area

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife Area

Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park

Lake Murphysboro State Park

LaSalle Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial

Lincoln Trail Lake autumn colors with fishing boat Illinois

Lincoln Trail State Park

Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site

Lowden State Park

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area

Marshall State Fish & Wildlife Area

Matthiessen State Park

Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area

Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area

Mississippi Palisades State Park

Moraine Hills State Park

Moraine View State Recreation Area

Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site

Nauvoo State Park

New Salem State Historic Site

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Palestine Lake State Recreation Area

Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Pyramid State Park

Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

Randolph County State Recreation Area

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area

Red Hills State Park

Soccer Fields and PA 642 Bridge in Milton State Park

Rend Lake State Park

Walkway leading to the lake at a state park near rochester mn

Rice Lake State Park

Rock Cut State Park

Rockwood State Park

Sahara Woods (Illinois)

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area

Sand Ridge State Forest

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area

Sangchris Lake State Park

Shabbona Lake State Park

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area

Siloam Springs State Park

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area

Spitler Woods (Illinois)

Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife Area

Starved Rock State Park

Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

Ten Mile Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area

Tunnel Hill State Trail

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site

Volo Bog State Natural Area

Walnut Point State Park

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

Weinberg King State Park

Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area

Weldon Springs State Recreation Area

trail through the forest in a state park near galena illinois

White Pines Forest State Park

Wildlife Prairie Park

William G. Stratton State Park

William W. Powers State Recreation Area

Wolf Creek State Park

❓ Fishing in Illinois — FAQ

Do I need a license to fish in Illinois state parks?

Yes — fishing in Illinois state parks generally requires a valid Illinois fishing license. A resident annual license costs $16, and a non-resident annual license costs $31.50. Youth and seniors are often exempt or pay reduced fees. Fees shown as of June 2026 — confirm current rates with the official state agency.

Are there free fishing days in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois offers free fishing days when no license is required (Father's Day weekend). Exact dates change each year, so verify with the official Illinois agency before your trip.