Trout season: Forest Preserves of Cook County postpones opener as have all others

Due to concerns associated with the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) because of anticipated conditions that do not allow for sufficient social distancing, the Forest Preserves of Cook County is postponing the opening day of our spring trout season, originally scheduled for April 4. Starting March 30, five Forest Preserves sites that were scheduled to be inland trout locations will be closed to the public indefinitely: Axehead Lake, Belleau Lake, Green Lake, Horsetail Lake and Sag Quarry East. For a full list of information on the Forest Preserves COVID-19 response, including closures and event cancellations, visit https://fpdcc.com/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-events-locations-precautions/ Fishing opportunities at nearly 40 other Forest Preserves locations are still available, subject as always to state laws and regulations and Forest Preserves rules. Visit https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/fishing/ for more information.

Spring Trout Season Opener Postponed Indefinitely in DuPage Forest Preserves Three lakes will remain closed to fishing (March 27, 2020) — The spring rainbow trout season opener, originally scheduled for April 4, has been postponed indefinitely at three DuPage Forest Preserve District lakes in keeping with the governor’s stay-at-home order to prevent gatherings and the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The main entrances to Grove Lake at Wood Dale Grove in Wood Dale, Silver Lake at Blackwell in Warrenville, and Pickerel Lake at Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne will be closed Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5 to ensure compliance. All three lakes will remain closed to all fishing indefinitely. Boat rentals at Blackwell, which were scheduled to open April 4, are also postponed indefinitely.

The preserves are open in the Lake County Forest Preserves, but trout season at Banana Lake, scheduled to open April 4, has been postponed. Sites at McHenry County Conservation District are open. But the start of trout season, set for April 4, is among the public event cancellations.