Fishing
A man is sitting on a rock fishing in a river.

Fishing at Our Preserves


Love to fish?  Try out one of our fishing sites at Illiniwek Forest Preserve or Loud Thunder Forest Preserve. These two great parks offer fishing from the banks of the Mississippi River. A Illinois fishing license is required.  If you have a boat, both parks have access ramps with docks.

Illiniwek Forest Preserve Fishing

A man and a boy are fishing on the shore of a river.

We know that some days you just need to spend some time fishing. That’s why we provide access to the Mississippi River at Illiniwek Forest Preserve.

Join us for a family day of fishing or take some time out for yourself. You can become one with nature while the kids play a game of catch at the playground or exploring the nature spiral while you sit and watch the boats move up and down the Mississippi with your line in the water hoping for that big catfish to bite. No matter how you want to spend your fishing time, we have one of the best spots along the Mississippi River to throw a line in.



Guidelines:

  • Fishing off of the public boat launch docks is prohibited.
  • Two pole limit per person, all other Illinois fishing rules and regulations apply.
  • Only registered campers may fish in the camping area.
  • Loud music and profanity is prohibited.
  • No glass bottles of any kind are permitted while fishing along the shoreline of the Mississippi River.
  • Ice fishing on the Mississippi River is prohibited.
  • Swimming is prohibited at Illiniwek Forest Preserve.
  • Anyone boating or fishing at Illiniwek Forest Preserve is responsible for their personal safety and property at all times.
  • Keep Illiniwek Forest Preserve and the Mississippi River beautiful by discarding your litter and any fish bait remains in a secured trash container.


Popular fish to find are:


  • December-Early March: walleye and sauger
  • June- September: bass, bluegill, and crappie
  • October- December: bass


To find out more about fishing in Illinois, check out the IL Department of Natural Resources fishing website page.

Loud Thunder Forest Preserve Fishing

A young boy in a red shirt is holding a fish on a dock.

Loud Thunder Forest Preserve is ideally suited for water recreation. With Mississippi River access along with Lake George, why not spend the day on the water?

Lake George has 167 acres of surface water and is stocked with fish. Bluegill, large-mouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, walleye, hybrid striped bass, bullhead, and muskellunge are just a few of our wide variety of fish kept in Lake George.


Fishing Limits for Lake George

  • Largemouth bass (14 inches, limit 6)
  • Channel catfish (no size limit, limit 6)
  • Bullhead ( no size limit, no limit)
  • Bluegill (no size limit, no limit)
  • Crappie (no limit, limit 25)
  • Muskie (36 inches, limit 1)
  • Walleye (14 inches, limit 6)
  • Hybrid striped bass (17 inches, limit 1)

Guidelines

  • No fishing off of the public boat ramp docks or boat rental docks.
  • Any fish under the established size limit must be returned to the lake immediately after capture.
  • Gas motors are not permitted on Lake George. Electric trolling motors only.
  • Sport fishing only allowed at Lake George.
  • Fishermen are limited to a maximum of two poles.
  • No trot line or jug fishing is allowed.
  • All watercraft are subjected to the Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act.
  • Swimming is prohibited in Lake George and the Mississippi River.
  • Fires are prohibited on/or near the lake shore.
  • Loud music and profanity is prohibited.
  • No glass bottles of any kind are allowed while fishing or boating along the shoreline of the Mississippi River or Lake George.
  • State fishing regulations are applicable to Lake George.
  • No ice fishing on the Mississippi River.
  • While ice fishing is permitted on Lake George, the Rock Island County Forest Preserve District does not regulate the condition of the ice. No tents or shanties shall not be left on Lake George. No ATV/UTV's or motorized vehicles of any kind are permitted on Loud Thunder, that includes Lake George.
  • Anyone boating or fishing on District property is responsible for their personal safety and property at all times.
  • Please have consideration for other fishermen and boaters. Lake George is a beautiful place provided for your recreation. Help us keep it that way by leaving your fishing area clean and litter free.
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