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Fly Fishing in Illinois

25 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Illinois, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Apple River (Canyon State Park) (Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
A scenic limestone canyon stream stocked with rainbow trout in the spring and fall, also offering native smallmouth bass action.
Aux Sable Creek (Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
One of the highest quality streams in the Illinois River basin, featuring diverse insect life and healthy bass populations.
Big Creek (Hardin County) (Longear Sunfish, Smallmouth Bass)
A scenic Ozark-style stream in southern Illinois with crystal clear water and aggressive longear sunfish.
Cache River (Upper) (Bowfin, Largemouth Bass)
Fly fishing among ancient cypress trees for bowfin and chain pickerel in a swamp-like atmosphere.
DuPage River (West Branch) (Smallmouth Bass, Carp)
Highly accessible suburban wade fishing with consistent hatches of mayflies and caddis supporting a robust bass fishery.
Embarras River (Spotted Bass, Common Carp)
A sand-bottomed river in east-central Illinois that offers excellent sight-fishing for carp and spotted bass.
Fox River (Yorkville Tailwater) (White Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
The area below the Glen Palmer Dam is a hotspot for multi-species action including white bass and smallmouth.
Galena River (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)
Steeped in history, this river offers beautiful drift-fishing or wading for smallmouth bass in the Driftless Area.
Green River (Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike)
Flowing through the Green River State Wildlife Area, this river is a peaceful spot for smallmouth and northern pike.
Kankakee River (Rock Creek Confluence) (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)
A diverse fishery where the limestone-bottomed Rock Creek enters the larger river, attracting smallmouth and walleye.
Kent Creek (South Branch) (Rainbow Trout)
An urban trout oasis in Rockford that receives significant stockings, providing great nymphing opportunities.
Kickapoo State Park Lakes (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Deep strip-mine lakes that stay cool, offering unique vertical fly fishing for trout in spring and deep-dwelling bass in summer.
Kishwaukee River (South Branch) (Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike)
A premier smallmouth bass destination with gravel bars and riffles perfect for swinging streamers or popping bugs.
Lake Le-Aqua-Na (Largemouth Bass, Bluegill)
A managed lake offering excellent bank access for fly anglers targeting bluegill and largemouth bass around submerged timber.
Lake Murphysboro (Redear Sunfish, Largemouth Bass)
Provides excellent shoreline fly fishing for redear sunfish and largemouth bass in the early morning mist.
Mackinaw River (Colene Hoose area) (Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish)
A central Illinois treasure known for its high water quality and some of the best wade-fishing for smallmouth in the region.
Mazon River (Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass)
A low-gradient stream known for fossil beds and excellent numbers of panfish and small bass on the fly.
Middle Fork Vermilion River (Smallmouth Bass, Longear Sunfish)
Illinois' only designated Wild and Scenic River, offering unparalleled water clarity for smallmouth bass.
Pine Creek (Rainbow Trout)
Located within White Pines Forest State Park, this rocky stream offers a scenic backdrop for seasonal trout chasing.
Piscasaw Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
A classic coldwater tributary in northern Illinois known for its seasonal trout stocking and wild-feeling environment.
Salt Creek (Cook County) (Common Carp, Largemouth Bass)
Improved water quality has turned this suburban stream into a surprisingly productive carp and bass fly fishing spot.
Silene Creek (Bluegill, Green Sunfish)
A small, delicate tributary that requires stealth and light tackle for native sunfish and occasional wandering bass.
Spoon River (Channel Catfish, Freshwater Drum)
A slow-moving, historic river that is underrated for fly anglers targeting large flathead catfish and channel cats on the fly.
Sugar River (Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Bass)
A sandy-bottomed river meandering through forest preserves, ideal for chasing northern pike on large streamers.
Waddams Creek (Rainbow Trout)
A hidden gem in Stephenson County that offers technical wade fishing for trout during the catch-and-release season.

Fly Fishing in Illinois

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