The Forest Preserves of Cook County announced the 2015 fall inland trout fishing season, opening on Oct. 17, at Busse Reservoir–North Pool (Elk Grove Village), Axehead Lake (Park Ridge), Belleau Lake (Park Ridge), Horsetail Lake (Palos Park) and Green Lake (Calumet City). (Forest Preserves of Cook County photo)

The fall rainbow trout season will open on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6 a.m. at three Forest Preserve District of DuPage County lakes: Pickerel Lake at Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne, Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale and Silver Lake at Blackwell in Warrenville.

In preparation, the district will stock Pickerel Lake with approximately 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout and Grove Lake with about 500 pounds. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will stock Silver Lake with about 3,000 pounds. The three lakes will be closed to all fishing from Thursday, Oct. 1 through Friday, Oct. 16 to allow the fish to acclimate and disperse through the lakes.

All anglers 16 and older who are not legally disabled must carry valid Illinois fishing licenses with inland trout stamps. Both are available for purchase weekdays 8 a.m. ‒ 4 p.m. through Visitor Services at District headquarters at 3S580 Naperville Road in Wheaton and at select local retailers.

The creel limit for rainbow trout is five per day with no length restriction. Creel limits, depth maps and species lists for 30 forest preserve lakes are in the district’s free “Fishing in DuPage County” guide, which is available online or through Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 or forest@dupageforest.org.

“The trout fishing program is a great opportunity for anglers to come out and fish for a species that they normally can’t find in this area,” said district ecologist Dan Grigas. “What better reason to drop a line?”

“This is a very popular fall tradition that can be enjoyed by the whole family,” said Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President Joe Cantore. “Come and give it a try. We are sure you will be hooked.”

–DuPage stocks lakes for upcoming trout season–