🐟 What fish can you catch in Des Plaines?

Most commonly caught species around Des Plaines , IL : Largemouth bass - 66,923 reported catches Smallmouth bass - 8,294 reported catches Bluegill - 7,946 reported catches Channel catfish - 5,726 reported catches Common carp - 5,249 reported catches .

📢 What are the latest Des Plaines fishing reports?

The latest Des Plaines , IL fishing reports are: @Gibbo610 reported a nice Yellow bullhead at The Park at Auburn Lakes . @adrianbafia reported a nice Yellow bullhead at Calumet Sag Channel . @wade.w reported a nice Channel catfish at Heritage Lake . @Bruhxmeme reported a nice Channel catfish at Des Plaines River . @denispool reported a nice Smallmouth bass at Northside Park Lake . .

Fishing in Des Plaines, IL

Q: 🎣 Where to fish in Des Plaines, Illinois?

Anglers in Des Plaines , IL recommend these top fishing spots: South Pool (Busse Forest Reservoir) , Busse Lake (Busse Forest Reservoir) , Mallard Lake , Skokie Lagoons , River Park .

Q: 📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Des Plaines?

Download the Fishbrain app and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Des Plaines , IL . We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro , you will get the following capabilities: Plan smarter: Get hour-by-hour fishing weather conditions. Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches. Stay ahead of the weather: Get hyper-local, real-time updates. .

Illinois, United States

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Top fish species in Des Plaines

Latest Des Plaines fishing reports

NEW

3 hours ago

Yellow bullhead

The Park at Auburn Lakes

length · weight

NEW

2 hours ago

Yellow bullhead

Calumet Sag Channel

length · weight

NEW

4 hours ago

Channel catfish

Heritage Lake

length · weight

NEW

4 hours ago

Channel catfish

Des Plaines River

length · weight

NEW

5 hours ago

Smallmouth bass

Northside Park Lake

length · weight

NEW

5 hours ago

Black crappie

Northside Park Lake

length · weight

NEW

5 hours ago

Northern pike

Hoffman Park Pond

29 in · 5 lb 1 oz

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25 minutes ago

Largemouth bass

Banana Lake

length · weight

NEW

3 hours ago

Largemouth bass

Belly Deep Slough

length · weight

NEW

5 hours ago

Smallmouth bass

Des Plaines River

length · weight

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Fishing regulations in Des Plaines

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Illinois can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching species as of May 5, 2025. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

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FAQ about Des Plaines fishing

Anglers in Des Plaines, IL recommend these top fishing spots: South Pool (Busse Forest Reservoir), Busse Lake (Busse Forest Reservoir), Mallard Lake, Skokie Lagoons, and River Park.

Most commonly caught species around Des Plaines, IL:

Largemouth bass - 66,923 reported catches
Smallmouth bass - 8,294 reported catches
Bluegill - 7,946 reported catches
Channel catfish - 5,726 reported catches
Common carp - 5,249 reported catches

The latest Des Plaines, IL fishing reports are:

@Gibbo610 reported a nice Yellow bullhead at The Park at Auburn Lakes.
@adrianbafia reported a nice Yellow bullhead at Calumet Sag Channel.
@wade.w reported a nice Channel catfish at Heritage Lake.
@Bruhxmeme reported a nice Channel catfish at Des Plaines River.
@denispool reported a nice Smallmouth bass at Northside Park Lake.

Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Des Plaines, IL. We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro, you will get the following capabilities: