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Fish stocking schedule

Illinois fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowIllinois Department of Natural Resources

Illinois stocks trout in selected inland streams and lakes for short spring and fall seasons, plus chinook and coho salmon in Lake Michigan. Urban catfish and panfish stocking is widespread in Chicago-area ponds.

Official source

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Stocking Report

Illinois Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative Illinois stocking schedule — Annual updates in Posted list format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Illinois stocking report

This page summarizes the Illinois stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in Illinois

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Chinook & Coho SalmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha / O. kisutch
    JanJan — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltFebFeb — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltMarMar — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltAprApr — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltMayMay — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltJunJun — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltJulJul — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltAugAug — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltSepSep — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltOctOct — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltNovNov — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltDecDec — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smolt
    Typical size: 3–6 inch smolt
  • Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus
    JanJan — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
  • MuskellungeEsox masquinongy
    JanJan — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingSepSep — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling
  • WalleyeSander vitreus
    JanJan — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingSepSep — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling

Notable Illinois programs

  • Inland Trout Program
  • Lake Michigan Salmon
  • Catfish in Urban Lakes

State hatchery system

Illinois operates 5 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Illinois urban fishing program

Illinois maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.

Illinois urban fishing program details →

Weekly stocking alerts for Illinois.

Bield: Fish reads Illinois Department of Natural Resources's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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