How to Get a Fishing License in Illinois Before Trout Season

RIVER FOREST, IL - As the inland trout fishing season begins soon, a number of people new to the sport may not know that there’s some odds and ends to take care of before you can legally throw out a line. Fishing in the state of Illinois requires a license from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Steve Silic, a fisheries biologist for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, describes how easy the process is and the ways to go about getting it done.

“It’s a pretty straight forward process,” Silic said, noting that the easiest way is to go through the DNR website and fill out a form.

But several outdoors stores in the Chicagoland region will also have them available.

“Your big outdoors stores like Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops - even Walmart - will have them,” Silic said. “The stores get the authorization from the state and are allowed to sell them.”

Doing it online allows you to print as many as you’d like, he added.

The cost of a fishing license is $15 for adults, $7.75 for those 65 and older and $1.50 for those 75 and older.

“Our former Governor Quinn lowered the price for seniors,” Silic said.

Find out more about fishing regulations and licensing in Illinois

Those younger than 16 years old do not need a license to fish, but Silic warned that if adults are with them they cannot keep the fish without a license.

“You can’t use the kids as a free pass,” he said.

Those fishing for inland trout - of which the season starts on April 1 - will need to pay an additional $6.50 for an Inland Trout stamp on their license.

“The Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC), as well as the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) appreciate the public’s respect of the lakes, the fish in them, and the regulations set to protect them,” said Silic. “Please contact the proper law enforcement agencies if you see any illegal actions, such as poaching.”

The Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department can be reached at 708-771-1000 and the Illinois Conservation Police can be reached at 800-252-0163.

The Forest Preserves’ trout lakes - Axehead Lake (Park Ridge), Belleau Lake (Park Ridge), Sag Quarry East (Lemont), Horsetail Lake (Palos Park) and Green Lake (Calumet City) will all be closed for fishing from March 27 through the morning of April 1 to allow the rainbow trout to disperse throughout the lakes prior to opening. Upwards of 4,300 pounds of fish will be stocked in those locations by the Forest Preserves before then.

The lakes will close again in early October before re-opening for fall trout season on Oct. 21.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons / Mike Anderson