Sarley: What to know about the fall trout fishing season
The 2026 Illinois fall trout fishing season will open Oct. 17 at 60 ponds, lakes and streams throughout the state. An early catch-and-release trout fishing opened at select sites last Saturday. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release period. These fish are planted to be caught and eaten, so why bother catching them to release them?
The Illinois Catchable Trout Program is funded through the sale of required inland trout stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year at waters where trout fishing is permitted during the fall season.
Fishermen should contact individual trout-stocked sites for information about site-specific regulations and opening times. Not all sites open at 5 a.m. on opening day.
I encourage everybody to give catchable trout season a try. The fall season generally draws smaller crowds than the spring season does. The spring season can be somewhat of a wild experience, with anglers standing elbow-to-elbow on the banks. Fall is much more relaxed.
I get asked what can be done with the caught rainbow trout. Of course you eat them. They are incredibly delicious. Go to YouTube and look for videos about cleaning fish. There will be more than you can shake the proverbial stick at. It’s easy. Cooking is fast and simple, too. Bon appetit.
Catching the rainbow trout is easy and doesn’t require any new equipment. Use the same rod you would use for panfish. Same reel too. Please make sure that you are using lightweight line, two- or four-pound test, preferably. You need not respool your reel. Just tie a lightweight leader on the end.
Sinkers aren’t really necessary as the trout can feel the weight of a sinker and get scared off. If you need weight, a tiny split shot should be more than enough. Hooks need to be tiny for the trout’s tiny mouths. A No. 8 hook is ideal for me.
If you need to fish with a bobber, use a small Thill float. The traditional red-and-white round bobbers don’t work for these wily fish at all.
I always use Berkley PowerBait Trout Bait on my hooks. It is a moldable, floating fishing paste that tempts the rainbow trout better than anything I have ever used.
If you have to use artificial baits, I think that the Worden’s Rooster Tail is a good choice if you keep them small.
I think you will find the trout close to shore near weeds. These fish are wary, so don’t make a lot of noise. Approach the shoreline slowly and quietly. The fish can be easily scared away.
For more information on trout seasons and other Illinois fishing opportunities, visit www.ifishillinois.org. Good luck and please remember that the limit is five fish.
Support the ICF
I’ll always take the opportunity to promote events run by my friends at the Illinois Conservation Foundation. They are running a raffle for a chance to win a great Pelican fishing kayak. Tickets are limited, cost $30 and the drawing is on Oct. 15.
Kayak fishing is the hottest thing going. A kayak allows you to fish on waters you’ve only dreamed about fishing on. People fish for bluegills among others on these versatile watercraft. For more information, please go to www.ilconservation.org
The ICF still has opportunities available to win some top-of-the line firearms in their ongoing gun raffle. The information is the same as above.
Please remember that the proceeds from the raffles directly contribute to the conservation mission of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. Please check out purchasing a membership to this great organization while you are on the website.