Trout season, boat rentals open April 2
The spring rainbow trout season opens at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 2, at three Forest Preserve District of DuPage County lakes: Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale, Silver Lake at Blackwell in Warrenville and Pickerel Lake at Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne.
In preparation. the district has stocked Pickerel Lake with roughly 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout, Grove Lake with 1,000 pounds, and Silver Lake with 3,200 pounds. The three lakes are closed to all fishing through opening day to allow the fish to acclimate and disperse.
The creel limit for rainbow trout is five per day with no length restriction, and all anglers ages 16 and older who are not legally disabled must carry valid Illinois fishing licenses with inland trout stamps. Both are available for purchase from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at forest district headquarters, 3S580 Naperville Road, Wheaton, where anglers also can pick up free copies of "Fishing in DuPage County" guide.
For details, contact Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 or forest@dupageforest.org.
Also at 6 a.m. April 2, the boat-rental area at Silver Lake at Blackwell will open for the season. Canoes, kayaks and rowboats are $10 an hour and $50 per day; rowboats with electric trolling motors are $15 an hour and $75 per day. Rentals end at 5:30 p.m. Anglers can buy a dozen night crawlers or three dozen wax worms at the counter for $2.50.
After the trout opener, the rental area will be open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day through Sept. 5; 11 a.m. to 6;30 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 31 to Sept. 2; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundays, Sept. 10-25.
Visitors with private nongasoline-powered watercraft less than 20 feet long - boats, canoes, kayaks and multichambered inflatables with factory-installed hardened floors and transoms - also can use the Silver Lake boat launch at Blackwell. Forest Preserve District permits and either Illinois water stamps or state registrations are required.
District permits are $7 a day or $35 a year for DuPage residents; $9 a day or $45 a year for nonresidents. They're available at the boat-rental area, at the steel lock box near the launch, or through Visitor Services, where walk-ins can also purchase water usage stamps.