Spring Trout Fishing Season in Lemont, Cook County Opens April 4

Fishing fans, stock your tackle boxes.

The Forest Preserves of Cook County announced Friday that the 2015 spring inland trout fishing season at Axehead Lake (Park Ridge), Belleau Lake (Park Ridge), Sag Quarry East (Lemont) and Green Lake (Calumet City) will open Saturday, April 4.

The Forest Preserves will be purchasing and stocking approximately 500 pounds of rainbow trout for Sag Quarry East, 1,250 pounds for Axehead Lake, and 1,250 pounds for Belleau Lake. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be purchasing and stocking 700 pounds for Green Lake. These are catchable sized rainbow trout, between ½ and 1 pound.

Although not native to our region, rainbow trout are favored by anglers for their bright color and moist, flaky meat.

As part of the IDNR’s stocking program, fishing for and possession of any trout is illegal from March 15 until 5 a.m. on April 4. In addition, the Forest Preserve trout lakes will be closed to all fishing from Monday, March 30, until sunrise on April 4. The lake closings allow the trout to disperse throughout the lakes prior to opening.

Once the season opens, there is a five trout per day creel limit with no size restrictions. No more than two lines per person with no more than two hooks per line may be used. A valid Illinois sport fishing license with an Inland Trout Stamp is required for anglers 16 years of age and older. An Illinois sport fishing license is not required for Illinois residents who are disabled and have a State of Illinois disabled I.D. card showing a Class 2 or 2A disability or a Veterans Disability Card, and Illinois residents who are on active military duty and are home on leave.

Click here for a list of all of the lakes and waters open to public fishing within the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and download the fishing guide.

The public can contact the Forest Preserves’ Fisheries Section at 708-403-6951 for further information.