DuPage forest preserve stocking lakes with trout

More than 5,000 rainbow trout are being added to three DuPage County Forest Preserve lakes in preparation for the April 5 start of trout season.

Many of the fish arrived Thursday, but another batch is expected Monday at Silver Lake in Warrenville's Blackwell Forest Preserve as part of an Illinois Department of Natural Resources fish restocking program.

Roughly 2,200 trout were introduced at Deep Quarry Lake in the West Branch Forest Preserve in Bartlett Thursday, along with another 350 at Grove Lake in Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve.

About 2,600 trout are being added to Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve fisheries biologist Don LaBrose said.

"We're adding fish to the other lakes to take some pressure off Silver Lake," LaBrose said. "At one time that was the only lake that had trout in it and you'd have 900 people show up opening morning."

The Bartlett and Wood Dale lakes are being stocked with fish from Harriett Hills Trout Farm in Michigan. Owner Dan Vogler said this year's batch features "good-sized rainbows."

Vogler said the fish he sent to DuPage average about 13 inches and weigh between one pound and one pound a quarter. He didn't have any suggestions for anglers regarding what type of lures his fish were prone to hit.

"They haven't invented that trout yet," he said, "but the best trout is a hungry trout."

LaBrose said trout fishing at the three lakes will be banned until an hour after sunrise April 5 -- which is 7:28 a.m. that day, according to the U.S. Navy's astronomical applications Web site.

"We want to give them some time to get acclimated to the lake," he said.

Fishermen will be limited to a five-trout daily maximum.

LaBrose said trout fishing is popular because the fish strike at just about any bait and are renowned fighters.

"They'll literally jump clean out of the water to try and get away," he said. "They'll give you a good run for your money. And it's a good fish to start kids on because they bite on just about anything and they're a decent size fish."

LaBrose said the majority of trout will be caught in the first few weeks of the season, but about 10 percent of the stock will survive the gauntlet of anglers each year. Another trout restocking will take place in the fall.

Other forest preserve lakes will be stocked with walleye, small-mouth bass and perch this spring. Those seasons start in May and June, LaBrose said.

For more information on the forest preserve's fishing programs, visit www.dupageforest.com.