Fishing in Des Plaines, IL

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

Anglers in Des Plaines , IL recommend these top fishing spots: Des Plaines River , Lake Michigan (IL) , Busse Woods Reservoir , West Branch Du Page River , Busse Lake (Busse Forest Reservoir) .

Q: 🐟 What fish can you catch in Des Plaines?

Most commonly caught species around Des Plaines , IL : Largemouth bass - 82,463 reported catches Bluegill - 11,604 reported catches Smallmouth bass - 10,061 reported catches Channel catfish - 7,168 reported catches Common carp - 6,883 reported catches .

Q: 📢 What are the latest Des Plaines fishing reports?

The latest Des Plaines , IL fishing reports are: @BigPapaRB reported a nice Largemouth bass . @jamesmanhard reported a nice Largemouth bass at Diamond Lake . @kellerachatz reported a nice Common carp at Fox River . @BigPapaRB reported a nice Largemouth bass . @finnbeaird reported a nice Muskellunge at Salt Creek . .

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

Largemouth bass

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Diamond Lake

length · weight

Common carp

Fox River

length · weight

Largemouth bass

length · weight

Muskellunge

Salt Creek

length · weight

Largemouth bass

length · weight

Largemouth bass

North Shore Channel

length · weight

Bluegill

Spring Creek

9 in · 1 lb

Largemouth bass

Bull Creek

length · weight

Longnose gar

Fox River

18 in · 1 lb

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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 Largemouth bass as of June 12th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Aggregate

Additional information

There is no statewide size limit. Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site-Specific Regulations. Only statewide regulations are shown herein, but you can access Site-Specific Regulations online.

Edibility

Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe

Synonyms

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

42°02′4.2″N 87°54′3.2″W

Regulations in the map

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FAQ about Des Plaines fishing

🎣 Where to fish in Des Plaines, Illinois?

Anglers in Des Plaines, IL recommend these top fishing spots: Des Plaines River, Lake Michigan (IL), Busse Woods Reservoir, West Branch Du Page River, and Busse Lake (Busse Forest Reservoir).

🐟 What fish can you catch in Des Plaines?

Most commonly caught species around Des Plaines, IL:

Largemouth bass - 82,463 reported catches
Bluegill - 11,604 reported catches
Smallmouth bass - 10,061 reported catches
Channel catfish - 7,168 reported catches
Common carp - 6,883 reported catches

📢 What are the latest Des Plaines fishing reports?

The latest Des Plaines, IL fishing reports are:

@BigPapaRB reported a nice Largemouth bass.
@jamesmanhard reported a nice Largemouth bass at Diamond Lake.
@kellerachatz reported a nice Common carp at Fox River.
@BigPapaRB reported a nice Largemouth bass.
@finnbeaird reported a nice Muskellunge at Salt Creek.

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

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: