The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Monday the 2012 spring trout fishing season in Illinois will begin Saturday, April 7th at 5:00am. The IDNR stocks more than 60,000 rainbow trout each spring in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted. The trout program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps.
To participate in the trout fishing program, anglers must have a valid Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp. The annual fishing licenses for the 2012 season are valid through March 31st, 2013. Anglers may not take trout from any of the stocked sites from March 15th to the opening of the season on April 7th at 5:00am. Anyone attempting to take trout before the legal opening will be issued citations.
During the spring trout season the daily possession limit for trout is five fish. Local stocked sites in southern Illinois include: - Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond - Marion County: Boston Pond at Stephen A. Forbes State Park - Wayne County: Sam Dale Conservation Area Trout Pond Illinois fishing licenses and inland trout stamps are available at DNR Direct license and permit locations, including bait shops, sporting goods stores and other retail outlets. Fishing licenses and trout stamps can also be purchased by using a credit card through DNR Direct online via the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov, or by calling DNR Direct toll-free at 1-888-673-7648. For more information about the trout stocking program, contact the IDNR Division of Fisheries at 217/782-6424 or check the web site at www.ifishillinois.org.
