Fishing

Fishing in Illinois

Discover 114 state parks offering fishing in Illinois

🐟 Illinois Fishing License at a Glance

Resident Annual $15

Non-Resident Annual $31.50

Youth Under 16 free

Senior 65-74: $7.75; 75+: $1.50 (residents)

Trout Stamp Inland trout $6.50; Lake Michigan salmon $6.50

🎉 Free Fishing Days June 19-22, 2026

Short-term licenses R 24-hour $5.50; NR 24-hour $10.50; NR 3-day $15.50 R = resident, NR = non-resident

Annual licenses run until March 31 (bought on or after March 1, 2026: valid to March 31, 2027). Prices include the agent fee; a transaction fee may apply. Trout and salmon in Lake Michigan need the salmon stamp, trout elsewhere the inland trout stamp.

Official Illinois Fishing Info →

Checked against the official agency, September 2026. Fees and dates change yearly — always confirm current rates and free-fishing dates via the official link above before purchasing.

114 State Parks

View All Fishing 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 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

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 State Park

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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)

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)

Heidecke Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Hennepin Canal State Park

Hidden Springs State Forest

Horseshoe Lake State Park

Illini State Park

Illinois and Michigan Canal (Illinois)

Illinois Beach State Park

Drapery and flowstone formations in the Chimney Dome of Illinois Caverns State Natural Area, Illinois

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

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

New Salem State Historic Site (Illinois)

Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site

Lowden State Park

Mackinaw River 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

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife 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

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 Recreation Area

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)

Autumn view of Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area near Manito, 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 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

Other Places with Fishing in Illinois (Not State Parks)

These places are run by a county, city, federal agency, another state agency, a tribe or a private owner, not by Illinois’s state park system. State park passes, rules and reservations may not apply, so check with the operator before you go.

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area

Run by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

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

Rice Lake State Park

Run by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a fish and wildlife area

❓ Fishing in Illinois — FAQ

Are there free fishing days in Illinois?

Yes — June 19-22, 2026. On free fishing days no license is required; confirm the dates with the official Illinois agency before your trip.