Fishing in DuPage County

Fishing is permitted in all of the Forest Preserve District’s lakes, along the East and West branches of the DuPage River, Salt Creek, the Des Plaines River, and in the tributary creeks, unless otherwise posted.

Fishing on Forest Preserve District waters does not require a District permit or have an associated District fee. However, any angler who is 16 or older and not legally disabled must carry a valid Illinois sport fishing license.

For up-to-date fishing information call (630) 871-6422, or visit the Outdoor Report.

For a list of fish stocked in the forest preserve lakes and rivers, download the Fish-Stocking Report.

“Fishing in DuPage County” includes the information and maps on this Web site as well as catch-and-release techniques, stocking reports, and updates on the District’s fisheries-management program. E-mail forest@dupageforest.com or call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 for a free printed copy, or download Fishing in DuPage County.

DISTRICT ALERT Mallard Lake Forest Preserve is closed during renovation, Learn More» Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch Forest Preserve is closed to boating due to spread of zebra mussels, Learn More»

Zebra Mussels in DuPage County
The Forest Preserve District has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch Forest Preserve in Bartlett. Anglers should do their part to stop the spread of this nonnative, invasive species no matter where they fish. 

• Rinse and dry all fishing tackle that comes in contact with the water.
• Empty all bait buckets in garbage cans or dumpsters before leaving the lake. Juvenile zebra mussels cannot be seen with the naked eye!

To jump to a specific topic, select the section below.
District Lakes | River Access | Creel Regulations | Catch-and-Release Zones | Fish Advisory | Rules and Regulations 

Forest Preserve District Lakes

Forest Preserve	Lake or Pond	Acres	Max Depth	Map
Big Woods in Aurora	Poss Lake	9	10'
Blackwell in Warrenville	Silver Lake White Pine Pond	62 9	35' 15'
Cricket Creek in Addison	Green Lake Stonewort Pond Riverbend Pond	9 3 5	10' 9' 9'
Danada in Wheaton	Rice Lake	36	22'
East Branch in Glendale Heights	Rush Lake Sunfish Pond	15 5	20' 25'
Hawk Hollow in Hanover Park	Muskrat Pond	4	25'
Herrick Lake in Wheaton	Herrick Lake	22	15'
Hidden Lake in Downers Grove	Eagle Lake Round Meadow Lake	10 15	20' 16'
Mallard Lake in Hanover Park Mallard Lake is closed during renovation, Learn More»	Cloverdale Pond Mallard Lake	9 85	17' 25'
Mayslake in Oak Brook	Mays Lake Trinity Lake	8 3	15' 18'
McDowell Grove in Naperville	Mud Lake	22	16'
Meacham Grove in Bloomingdale	Maple Lake	32	41'
Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne	Pickerel Lake Catfish Pond Horsetail Pond	22 5 3	20' 16' 18'
Songbird Slough in Itasca	Songbird Lake	15	19'
Spring Creek Reservoir in  Bloomingdale	Spring Creek Reservoir	49	25'
Timber Ridge in West Chicago	Timber Lake	17	11'
West Branch in Bartlett Deep Quarry Lake is closed to boating due to spread of zebra mussels, Learn More»	Bass Lake Deep Quarry Lake	15 40	30' 45'
Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale	Grove Lake	9	30'

Forest Preserve District River Access

Forest Preserve	Waterway	Access Route
Blackwell in Warrenville	West Branch of the DuPage River	Mack Rd. 0.25 mile east of Rte. 59, at end of parking area
Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn	East Branch of the DuPage River	St. Charles Rd. 0.25 mile west of Rte. 53, 75-yard walk on turf trail
Cricket Creek in Addison	Salt Creek	Fullerton Ave. 0.25 mile east of Villa Ave., 25-yard walk on turf trail
East Branch in Glendale Heights	East Branch of the DuPage River	Glen Ellyn Rd. south of Army Trail Rd., 0.25-mile walk on turf trail
Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook	Salt Creek	Spring Ave. 1 mile north of York Rd., 25-yard walk on paved trail
Greene Valley in Naperville	East Branch of the DuPage River	Greene Rd. 1 mile north of 75th St., 100-yard walk on turf trail
Hidden Lake in Downers Grove	East Branch of the DuPage River	Rte. 53 0.25 mile south of Rte. 56, 50-yard walk on turf trail
McDowell Grove in Naperville	West Branch of the DuPage River	Raymond Dr. 0.5 mile south of Diehl Rd., adjacent to parking area
Pioneer Park in Naperville	West Branch of the DuPage River	Washington Ave. 0.25 mile north of Hobson Rd., 50-yard walk on turf trail
Salt Creek Park in Wood Dale	Salt Creek	Elizabeth Rd. at Addison Rd., 65-yard walk on gravel trail
Warrenville Grove in Warrenville	West Branch of the DuPage River	Batavia Rd. 1 mile south of Butterfield Rd., 25-yard walk on paved trail
West Branch in Bartlett	West Branch of the DuPage River	Army Trail Rd. at Gerber Rd. in Bartlett, 125-yard walk west on gravel trail
West DuPage Woods in West Chicago	West Branch of the DuPage River	Rte. 59 north of Roosevelt Rd., 200-yard walk on main gravel trail

 

Creel Regulations for District Lakes

All District Lakes	Site-Specific Creel Limits
Species Daily Limit Min Length Largemouth or smallmouth bass 3 15'' Channel or flathead catfish  3 total 12'' Northern pike 3 24'' Walleye 3 16'' Crappie  15 9'' Muskie 1 48'' Rainbow trout 5 No min Yellow or white bass or hybrids No limit No min	Species Forest Preserve Daily Limit Min Length Largemouth or smallmouth bass East Branch Hidden Lake Mayslake West Branch Wood Dale Grove 1 18'' Yellow perch West Branch (Deep Quarry Lake only) Mallard Lake (Mallard Lake only) 4 10''

Creel Regulations for DuPage County Rivers

Species	Daily Limit	Min Length
Largemouth or smallmouth bass	3	15''
Channel or flathead catfish	3	12''
Crappie	15	9''
Northern pike	3	24''
Walleye	3	16''

Catch-and-Release Zones for Smallmouth Bass 

West Branch of the DuPage River	From the Illinois Prairie Path Elgin Spur bridge at Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in West Chicago downstream to the Illinois Prairie Path Geneva Spur bridge at Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve in Winfield, including Klein Creek at Timber Ridge Forest Preserve
West Branch of the DuPage River	From the Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve dam in Warrenville downstream to the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve dam in Naperville
East Branch of the DuPage River	From the Butterfield Road (Rte. 56) bridge downstream through Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn to the Morton Arboretum boundary

Fish Advisory

The Illinois Department of Public Health has posted, for people in certain risk groups, a one-meal-per-week advisory for all sizes of carp caught in the East Branch and West Branch of the DuPage River and in Salt Creek. For additional information, call the IDPH at (217) 782-5830, or visit their Web site at www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/fishadv.htm.

Forest Preserve District Fishing Rules and Regulations

In general, fishing rules in the forest preserves are similar to Illinois state regulations. However, District rules may be more restrictive when necessary to sustain the long-term fisheries-management program.

1. Any angler 16 or older who is not legally disabled is required to carry a valid Illinois sport fishing license when fishing. An Inland Trout Stamp is also required in order to take trout from District lakes.
2. Federal and state regulations require that watercraft contain one well-fitting Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for each member on board and that children under 13 wear PFDs when underway in recreational vessels. In addition, District regulations require that all individuals, regardless of age, must wear PFDs when in any canoes or kayaks.
3. Fishing hours coincide with regular preserve hours — one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset. Boats must leave the water at sunset. Night fishing is prohibited at all forest preserves with the exception of Deep Quarry Lake at West Branch Forest Preserve. Night fishing is allowed only from the shore on Deep Quarry Lake, but all anglers must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m.
4. Each angler is permitted no more than two poles or tip-ups with no more than two hooks or lures attached to each.
5. Anglers may use minnows, worms, insects, lures, wet flies, dough balls, or stink or blood bait. Anglers may not use amphibians, reptiles or crayfish as bait. Bait collection is not permitted in the forest preserves.
6. When necessary, special regulations are imposed to improve the structure and abundance of the fish population. A minimum length limit means that fish measuring below a designated length must be released. A daily creel limit means that no more than a maximum number of a fish species may be taken daily. A closed season means that fish of a particular species may not be taken between specified dates. Site-specific regulations apply to certain areas only and are often more restrictive in order to preserve the population of a particular fish species.
7. Fish may be released only into the same water where they were taken. Do not return minnows.
8. Fishing with a net, seine or trap is unlawful as is taking a fish with bow and arrow, spear or slingshot.
9. Unless otherwise noted, anglers may fish from shorelines, piers and boats and may wade in rivers and streams. Wading in lakes or ponds, swimming, and using rubber rafts or similar flotation devices are not allowed.
10. Ice fishing is permitted on most forest preserve waters unless otherwise posted. Each angler is permitted no more than two ice fishing holes. Ice holes should be limited to 10 inches in diameter. Only portable shelters are permitted and must be removed when not in use. Ice conditions are not monitored by rangers, so ice fishing is done at an angler’s own risk. As a guideline, not a guarantee, a minimum of 4 inches of ice is recommended for fishing, skating and other ice activities. Anglers should note that ice may be safe in one spot yet very thin only a few feet away. River currents, underwater springs, animal activity or runoff from local roads can all create hard-to-detect areas of thin ice. Remember, no ice should be considered totally safe.