Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Illinois (Complete Guide)

Illinois offers some of the best fishing in the Midwest. Understanding the best seasons and times to fish can greatly impact your success.

The best times to fish in Illinois are early morning and late evening. Summer and fall are the best months for most species in Illinois.

Month	Illinois Fishing Location
January	The Chicago Harbor on Lake Michigan is a great spot for ice fishing for Perch during the winter months.
February	Winthrop Harbor on Lake Michigan is a fantastic spot for Brown Trout.
March	As the ice melts, Fox River in the town of Batavia is excellent for Smallmouth Bass.
April	Kankakee River State Park is a fantastic spot for catching Northern Pike.
May	The shoreline around Waukegan Harbor on Lake Michigan is perfect for Brown Trout.
June	The lakes within Moraine Hills State Park are teeming with Largemouth Bass.
July	Crab Orchard Lake in Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge offers excellent fishing for Channel Catfish.
August	Try Evergreen Lake in Comlara Park for the chance to catch some impressive Saugeye.
September	The Illinois River around Starved Rock State Park is a popular spot for Sauger.
October	The Rock River in Rock Island is a fantastic location for catching Walleye.
November	The Winthrop Harbor at Lake Michigan is a great spot for winter Steelhead.
December	For winter Steelhead, the Winthrop Harbor at Lake Michigan is a great spot.

In this article, we will discuss the best times and seasons to fish in Illinois. We will also talk about where some of the best fishing in the state is on a month-by-month basis.

Best Times: Creeks/Rivers to Fly Fish in Illinois

Fox River: Batavia to Elgin – Best Months: May to September – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike.

Kankakee River: Kankakee State Park to Wilmington – Best Months: April to June, September to November – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike.

Vermilion River: Streator to Oglesby – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout.

Rock River: Oregon to Rockton – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye.

Illinois River: Starved Rock to Ottawa – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger.

Sangamon River: Riverton to Petersburg – Best Months: May to September – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Mazon River: South Wilmington to Morris – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

DuPage River: Naperville to Shorewood – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Salt Creek: Busse Woods to Brookfield – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Mackinaw River: Congerville to Green Valley – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Spoon River: London Mills to Bernadotte – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Pecatonica River: Rockton to Winslow – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye.

Des Plaines River: Libertyville to Riverside – Best Months: May to September – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Big Bureau Creek: Tiskilwa to the Illinois River – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Sugar River: Rockton to Beloit – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike.

Embarras River: Newton to Lawrenceville – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

North Fork Vermilion River: Danville to the Middle Fork – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Mack Creek: Viola to New Boston – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish.

Apple River: Warren to the Mississippi River – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike.

Mississippi River: Various sections along the Illinois border – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Walleye.

Best Times: Lakes to Fish in Illinois

Montrose Harbor: Chicago – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Navy Pier: Chicago – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Burnham Harbor: Chicago – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Waukegan Harbor: Waukegan – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Winthrop Harbor: Winthrop Harbor – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Illinois Beach State Park: Zion – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

North Point Marina: Winthrop Harbor – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Zion Harbor: Zion – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Port of Indiana: East Chicago – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Calumet Park: Chicago – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Hammond Marina: Hammond – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Michigan City Harbor: Michigan City – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Burns Ditch: Portage – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Gary Light: Gary – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Whiting Lakefront Park: Whiting – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Indiana Dunes State Park: Chesterton – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk: Portage – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Beverly Shores: Beverly Shores – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Washington Park Marina: Michigan City – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

St. Joseph Lighthouse: St. Joseph – Best Months: April to June, September to October – Targeted Fish: Coho Salmon, Brown Trout.

Recommended Fishing Guides in Illinois

These Illinois-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Twenty Four VII Charters	Winthrop Harbor, IL
Merganzer Fishing Charters	Waukegan, IL
Long Gone 3 Charters	Waukegan, IL
Griffin Sport Fishing Charters	Winthrop Harbor, IL
Breezy 1 Sportfishing	Winthrop Harbor, IL
Xtasea IV Charters	Waukegan, IL
Thin Blue Line Fishing Chicago	Chicago, IL
Full Moon Fishing Service–Rend Lake	Whittington, IL

Species Seasonal Breakdown

Striped Bass

The best time to catch them is during the warmer summer months, specifically June through August. Some top spots in Illinois for striped bass fishing are the Lake Michigan shoreline near Chicago, the Illinois River around Ottawa, the Fox River near Elgin, and the Kankakee River.

Chinook “King” Salmon

The best time to catch them is during the cooler months of fall and early winter. September through November are great months to try. Some top spots in Illinois for king salmon fishing are the Lake Michigan shoreline, especially around Chicago and Waukegan, the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park, and the Kankakee River.

Coho “Silver” Salmon

The best time to catch them is during the cooler months of fall, specifically September and October. Coho salmon are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, so those are the best times to cast your line. Some top spots in Illinois for coho salmon fishing are the Lake Michigan shoreline, especially around Chicago and Waukegan, the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park, and the Kankakee River.

Steelhead

The best time to catch them is during the cooler months of fall and winter. October through February are great months to try. Some top spots in Illinois for steelhead fishing are the Lake Michigan shoreline, especially around Chicago and Waukegan, the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park, and the Rock River.

Brown Trout

The best time to catch them is during the cooler months of fall, winter, and early spring. September through April are great months to try. Some top spots in Illinois for brown trout fishing are the Kankakee River, the Fox River, the Rock River, and the Illinois River.

Rainbow Trout

The best time to catch them is during the cooler months of fall, winter, and early spring. October through April are great months to try. Some top spots in Illinois for rainbow trout fishing are the Rock River, the Kankakee River, the Fox River, and the Illinois River.

Largemouth Bass

The best time to catch them is during the spring and summer months when the water is warmer. April through August are great months to try. The Chain O’Lakes, Lake Shelbyville, Rend Lake, and the Kankakee River are top spots in Illinois for largemouth bass fishing.

Smallmouth Bass

The best time to catch them is during the spring and fall months when the water is cooler. April, May, September, and October are great months to try. Some top spots in Illinois for smallmouth bass fishing are the Kankakee River, the Fox River, the Rock River, and Lake Shelbyville.

White Bass

The best time to catch them is during the spring and early summer, from April to June. White bass feed during the early morning and late afternoon, so those are good times to try. Some great spots in Illinois to catch white bass are the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park, the Fox River around Elgin, the Kankakee River near Wilmington, and Lake Shelbyville.

Carp

Carp are active all year round but most active during the warmer months, from May to September. They like to eat during the daytime, so try fishing during the morning or afternoon. Some good places to catch carp in Illinois are the Chicago River, the Des Plaines River, the Fox River, and the Illinois River.

Yellow Perch

The best time to catch them is during the spring and fall months, around April, May, September, and October. Yellow perch like to hang out near the bottom of the water, so try fishing in the morning or evening when they are more active. Some great spots in Illinois to find yellow perch are the Chain O’Lakes near Chicago, Lake Shelbyville in central Illinois, and Rend Lake.

Catfish

Catfish love warm weather, so the best time to fish for them is between June and August. They usually like to eat when it’s a bit darker out, so early in the morning or late at night are the best times. Some super spots to find catfish in Illinois are the Mississippi River near Quincy, the Illinois River close to Peoria, and Rend Lake in the southern part of the state.

Crappie

If you’re looking to fish for crappie in Illinois, the best time is spring, around April and May, when they move closer to the shore to spawn. Early morning and late evening are often the best times of day to catch them. Some really good places in Illinois to find crappie are Rend Lake down south, Lake Shelbyville in central Illinois, and Crab Orchard Lake near Carbondale.

Walleye

For walleye fishing in Illinois, the best months are during the spring and fall when the fish are most active, typically March through May and again in September through November. Some top locations for walleye fishing in the state include the Illinois River, particularly near Starved Rock State Park, Heidecke Lake near Morris, Lake Shelbyville in central Illinois, and the Kaskaskia River.

Muskie

Musky like cooler weather, so the best months to fish for them are October and November. They usually bite the most when the sun isn’t too bright, so early morning and late evening are good times to try. Some top spots in Illinois to catch musky are the Fox Chain O’Lakes up north, Evergreen Lake in the middle of the state, and Spring Lake.

Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Michigan. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Ohio. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Minnesota. Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Lake Michigan.

Best Fishing in Illinois on Seasonal Basis

Winter

Chain O’Lakes – Fox Lake: The Chain O’Lakes near Fox Lake is a popular spot for ice fishing during the winter.
Lake Shelbyville – Shelbyville: Lake Shelbyville offers excellent ice fishing opportunities in the winter.
Fox River – Elgin: The Fox River near Elgin is a favorite among winter anglers.
Shabbona Lake – Shabbona: Shabbona Lake is a great winter fishing destination where you can find species like Bass, Crappie, and Bluegill.

Spring

Lake Shelbyville – Shelbyville: Head to Lake Shelbyville for some fantastic Crappie fishing in the spring.
Fox River – Elgin: The Fox River near Elgin is a great spot for catching Smallmouth Bass in the spring.
Illinois River – Peoria: The Illinois River around Peoria is known for its excellent White Bass fishing in the spring.
Chain O’Lakes – Fox Lake: The Chain O’Lakes near Fox Lake offers fantastic Northern Pike fishing in the spring.

Summer

Lake Michigan – Chicago: Head to Lake Michigan in Chicago for some exciting Salmon fishing during the summer.
Mississippi River – Quincy: The Mississippi River around Quincy is a prime spot for Catfish fishing in the summer.
Fox Chain O’Lakes – Antioch: The Fox Chain O’Lakes near Antioch offers excellent fishing for Largemouth Bass in the summer.
Rend Lake – Benton: Rend Lake in Benton is a great place to catch Crappie during the summer months.

Fall

Fox River – Batavia: In the Fox River near Batavia, you can find plenty of Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike during the fall months.
Rend Lake – Benton: Head over to Rend Lake in Benton for some fantastic Crappie fishing in the fall.
Illinois River – Ottawa: The Illinois River around Ottawa is a hotspot for catching Walleye in the fall.
Chain O’Lakes – Antioch: The Chain O’Lakes near Antioch offers excellent fishing for Largemouth Bass in the fall.