Illinois
Fishing License 2026.

License required?

Yes

Where to apply?

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Online via ExploreMoreIL.com, license agents, or IDNR offices.

Cost

Resident annual: $15. Non-resident annual: $31.50. Resident 24-hour: $5.50. Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp (required for trout/salmon on Lake MI): $6.50. Inland Trout Stamp: $6.50. Super senior (75+ resident): $1.50. Youth under 16: free.

Validity

Annual (March 1 – March 31 next year) or 24-hour

Available online?

Yes

Illinois offers one of the cheapest resident licenses in the Midwest ($15). A Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp is required IN ADDITION to the base license for anyone fishing trout or salmon in Lake Michigan waters — this is the only meaningful extra stamp. Inland trout waters also require a trout stamp if you harvest trout. Required for ages 16+. Free Fishing Days: June 19–22, 2026.

Closed seasons

Largemouth bass: no closed season but 14" min + 6/day on most waters. Sauger/walleye: open year-round. Lake Michigan salmon: year-round with stamp.

Catch limits

Chinook + coho salmon (Lake MI): 5/day combined, 10" min. Lake trout (Lake MI): 2/day 15" min. Walleye/sauger: 6/day combined 14" min. Largemouth bass: 6/day 14" min (many waters). Channel catfish: 6/day on most waters.

Prohibited methods

Snagging for salmon legal only in designated harbors during specified fall windows. Trotlines + limb lines regulated by water. Commercial nets prohibited in most inland waters.

Catch & Release

Required for any fish outside daily limit or legal size. Trophy programs (Fish Illinois, Master Angler) encourage release with photo documentation.

Lake Michigan charters out of Waukegan, Chicago, and North Point Marina run a strong coho/chinook program from April through September. The Mississippi River border + Illinois River produce world-class sauger, channel cats, and flathead. Carlyle and Shelbyville are top-5 Midwest crappie + hybrid striper reservoirs.

Best season

Lake MI salmon: April–June (coho) + August–October (chinook). Sauger (Mississippi/Illinois rivers): November–March (tailwater). Crappie (Shelbyville/Carlyle): April–May. Catfish: June–September.

Freshwater

91,000 miles of rivers/streams + 1.4M acres of inland waters. Mississippi + Illinois river systems dominate; southern reservoirs (Carlyle, Shelbyville, Rend) produce trophy crappie + hybrids.

Saltwater

None — but 63 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with charter-grade salmon fishing out of Waukegan + Chicago + North Point.

Equipment

Bass Pro (Gurnee + Bolingbrook), Cabela's (Hoffman Estates). Henry's Sports + Bait (Chicago) and Triangle Sports (Waukegan) cover Lake MI. Confluence Outfitters + Downtown Bait (Carlyle) for downstate.

Fishing guides

$500–$800/day Lake Michigan salmon charters (4–6 anglers). River cat/walleye guides: $300–$450 for 2 anglers.

Transport

Fly into ORD (Chicago O'Hare) or MDW (Midway). STL (St. Louis) for downstate southern reservoirs. Rental car essential outside Chicago.

Safety

Lake Michigan is a big lake — small-craft warnings taken seriously. Thunderstorms pop up fast summer afternoons. Mississippi River currents dangerous near wing dams. Zebra mussel shells cut feet — wear shoes wading.

License fees

$15 resident / $31.50 non-res annual; +$6.50 Lake MI salmon stamp

Guide prices

$500–$800 Lake MI salmon; $300–$450 river walleye/cat

Daily budget

Budget: $60/day (public access, bank fishing). Charter: $150/angler split.