Start of rainbow trout season just around corner

The spring rainbow trout season will open at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at three DuPage County Forest Preserve District lakes: Pickerel Lake at Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne; Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale; and Silver Lake at Blackwell in Warrenville.

In preparation, the forest preserve district will stock Pickerel Lake with roughly 2,000 rainbow trout and Grove Lake with 1,000. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will stock Silver Lake with about 4,800 fish.

The three lakes will be closed to all fishing through April 4 to allow the fish to acclimate and disperse through the lakes.

All anglers ages 16 and older who are not legally disabled must carry valid Illinois fishing licenses with inland trout stamps. The creel limit for rainbow trout is five per day with no length restriction.

For a free copy of the forest preserve district's "Fishing in DuPage County" guide, with regulations, depth maps and species lists for 30 lakes at 18 different DuPage County forest preserves, anglers can call Visitor Services at (630) 933-7248 or email forest@dupageforest.org.

They also can download the guide from dupageforest.org by clicking on "Things to Do," "Recreational Activities" and the fishing icon.

If weather conditions will allow for safe open-water fishing, kids ages 15 and younger are invited to a special early access event during "Trout Fishing for Kids" from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 29, at Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove.

Adults are invited to help their children during this family program but may not fish themselves. Staff and volunteers will offer fishing tips, free bait and loaner poles. For details, call (630) 933-7668.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and manages 25,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Each year its 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs welcome more than 4 million visitors.