Welcome to I Fish Illinois—Illinois DNR Division of Fisheries

2017 Illinois Fishing Tournament Applications Now Accepted by IDNR

As of November 1st, fishing tournament organizers can apply to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for 2017 fishing tournament permits. Use the IDNR Fishing Tournament Information System to access your account or to apply for an online account. Last year, we had over 2000 applications for fishing tournaments in Illinois!

Note: Catch results from 2016 tournaments must be entered before fishing clubs and tournament trails will be allowed to request tournament dates for 2017.

Do Not Release Pond Plants Into Any Waters!

If you have a pond in your yard you're cleaning out for the season, please remember NOT to release aquatic plants into any water bodies or compost any water plants close to any river, stream or drainage ditch. Some of these pond plants are invasives that can quickly take over an entire water body. Water lettuce and water hyacinth, along with many more popular pond plants, are all invasive species. Instead, use your yard waste bags to dispose of your pond plants. Thank you so much for helping to stop the spread of aquatic invasive plants! Learn more here.

Alligator Gar Reintroduction Program

Alligator Gar is the largest fish native to Illinois. With records dating back to prehistoric years, this species had not been seen in the state since the last documented Alligator Gar catch in the Cache River cutoff channel in southern Illinois in 1966. Alligator Gar were officially declared extinct in Illinois in the 1990s. The program had a brief hiatus in 2014 – 2015, but times are changing, and this program is once again becoming active with more research backing up this stocking initiative to help ensure success of survivability. Read more about this program here.

Follow IFishIllinois on Social Media

IFishIllinois strives to be your one-stop, go-to site for fishing in Illinois waters. We work hard to keep anglers up to date on fishing events, IDNR angling-related news releases, fishing reports, angling tips and equipment, tips for fish stocking, and much more.

Social media is an excellent way to promote what's happening in angling news throughout Illinois. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date ... because you fish Illinois.

Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

Remove, Drain, Dry: As the boats come out of storage, we'd like to remind you to be aware of invasive species that pose a threat to our lands and waterways. To fight the spread of aquatic invaders, the IDNR is asking residents to "be a hero transport zero." The best way to stop the spread of invasive species is to remove, drain, and dry your boats after use in any Illinois waterway. Learn more here.