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Illinois counties

Fishing in Cook County, Illinois

County seat: Chicago. Population 5,275,541.

  • 12lake pages
  • 68IDNR launches
  • 6river pages
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Photo of Lake Michigan: Charles Fulton, CC BY 2.0

Fishing times todaySolunar periods, sunrise and moonrise for Cook County, today and the next 7 days.Best fishing times today
Cook County, Illinois

Fishing Cook County by the numbers

The 2020 Census tallied 5,275,541 residents in Cook County, whose courthouse stands in Chicago. On the IDNR IFishIllinois map, loaner sites here carry the IDNR fishing map's Chicago/Northeast Illinois grouping. Lake Michigan touches Cook County: IDNR maps 11 harbors for shore fishing plus 11 lagoons it stocks.

Of the 12 paged lakes reaching the county, Wolf Lake is biggest. IDNR counts 68 public launches for the county across its map and 2019 inventory. Stocking trucks show up in 120 stocking rows of the 2021-2026 IDNR table for the county.

12lake pages
68IDNR launches
6river pages
120stocking rows

Census 2020 population; IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody pages and map; IDNR lands asset inventory (2019); IDNR stocking table; read November 4, 2026.

Map

Where the Cook County ramps and piers sit

IDNR IFishIllinois map launch points, IDNR asset inventory piers and IFishIllinois page points; read November 4, 2026.

Lakes

Lake pages filed under Cook County

LakeAcres (IDNR)Max depth (IDNR text)KindLaunchesFish named
Busse Lake (FPDCC)19 ftlake2bluegill, walleye, muskellunge
Wolf Lake380lake4bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie
Skokie Lagoons (FPDCC)24214.9 ftlake1channel catfish, northern pike, walleye
Lake Tampier (FPDCC)10 ftlake1northern pike, channel catfish, bluegill
Maple Lake (FPDCC)60lake0
Powderhorn Lake (FPDCC)4818 ftlake1black crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill
Great Lakes Quarry (HQRA)41lake1northern pike, walleye
Beck Lake (FPDCC)3719 ftlake1northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass
Sag Quarry East (FPDCC)lake0rainbow trout
Axehead Lake (FPDCC)1731 ftlake0northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass
Sag Quarry West (FPDCC)1410.3 ftlake0
Belleau Lake (FPDCC)1232 ftlake0bluegill, largemouth bass, rainbow trout

Acres as listed on the IDNR IFishIllinois page (printed only where the page text gives the same size); depth only where the IDNR text states a maximum depth. Launch counts from the IDNR map and 2019 inventory; acres left blank where the IDNR page text disagrees with its listing.

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Lake Michigan

Cook County on Lake Michigan shore

Lake Michigan opens on its own page with rules and stocking; harbors follow.

  • 59th Street HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Belmont HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Burnham HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Calumet HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Diversey HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • DuSable HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Jackson (Inner)IDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Jackson (Outer)IDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Monroe HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Montrose HarborIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access
  • Navy PierIDNR: shoreline highlighted with red in harbor maps delineates public bank fishing access

Lagoons stocked in Cook County

  • Auburn LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Columbus LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Douglas LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Garfield LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Gompers LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Humboldt LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Jackson Park lagoonsChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Marquette LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • McKinley LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Sherman LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)
  • Washington LagoonChannel Catfish (12,500+ fish) stocked by IDNR in June, July and August (IDNR Lake Michigan page)

IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. IDNR Lake Michigan page harbors and lagoons, read November 4, 2026.

Species

Lake pages around Cook County, tallied by fish

Bars show lake pages within 50 miles of Chicago that list each fish; largemouth bass leads.

Largemouth bass66 lakes
Bluegill65 lakes
Channel catfish36 lakes
Black crappie33 lakes
Common carp20 lakes
Northern pike15 lakes
Rainbow trout11 lakes
Walleye10 lakes
Redear sunfish8 lakes
Muskellunge6 lakes

IDNR fishing outlook ratings, species named on IFishIllinois pages, the IDNR stocking table and state records, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.

Rivers

Rivers winding across Cook County

  • Des Plaines RiverIFishIllinois page, 15 IDNR-mapped ramps, 12 USGS gauges
  • Chicago River8 USGS gauges
  • North Branch Chicago River5 IDNR-mapped ramps, 2 USGS gauges
  • Skokie River2 USGS gauges
  • Calumet River1 USGS gauge
  • Little Calumet River6 IDNR-mapped ramps, 1 USGS gauge

Creeks of Cook County without a page (4)

  • Grand Calumet Riverriver
  • South Branch Chicago River2 IDNR-mapped ramps
  • South Fork South Branch Chicago Riverriver
  • West Fork North Branch Chicago Riverriver

River and creek levels in Cook County

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Chicago River At Columbus Drive At Chicago, Il524 cfs, -2.36 ft gage heightOct 1 1:59 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2006.
Nb Chicago River At Grand Avenue At Chicago, Il425 cfs, -2.31 ft gage heightOct 1 1:55 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2010.
Des Plaines River At Riverside, Il247 cfs, 1.92 ft gage heightNov 11 8:45 pm
Des Plaines R At Algonquin Rd At Des Plaines, Il165 cfs, 8.20 ft gage heightNov 11 9:00 pm
Salt Creek At Western Springs, Il50 cfs, 1.50 ft gage heightNov 11 8:50 pm
Little Calumet River At South Holland, Il69 cfs, 5.62 ft gage heightNov 11 8:45 pm

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.

IDNR IFishIllinois river and pool pages, USGS GNIS names, IDNR map launches and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 4, 2026.

River stages

River stage readings around Cook County

GaugeReadingFlowFlood categoryTime (UTC)
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Chicago (Western Ave)-2 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Stickney-1.93 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
North Branch Chicago River at Chicago (Grand Ave)-1.81 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
Chicago River at Chicago (Columbus Dr)-1.95 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:26:00 UTC
Lake Michigan at Chicago (Chicago Lock)0.1 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:26:00 UTC

One timed reading per gauge, copied at build time.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).

Access

Trailer ramps scattered over Cook County

12 launches of these launches name water that has no page here, so they appear only on this list.

The 2019 IDNR inventory also counts 3 boat docks in the county.

IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026. IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.

Stocking

Stocking in Cook County

YearWaterSpecies (as listed)NumberSize class
2026Axehead Lake (FPDCC)Bluegill25,578Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Axehead Lake (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout1,255NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Beck Lake (FPDCC)Northern Pike150NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Belleau Lake (FPDCC)Bluegill9,947Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Belleau Lake (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout1,000NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Busse Lake (FPDCC)Channel Catfish10,497NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Busse Lake (FPDCC)Muskellunge403Adult
2026Busse Lake (FPDCC)Northern Pike466NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Busse Lake (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout4,053Adult
2026Busse Lake (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout1,400NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Busse Lake (FPDCC)Walleye24,480Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Des Plaines RiverSauger54,254Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Great Lakes Quarry (HQRA)Northern Pike125NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Great Lakes Quarry (HQRA)Walleye4,374Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Sag Quarry East (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout850NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Skokie Lagoons (FPDCC)Channel Catfish5,010Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7")
2026Skokie Lagoons (FPDCC)Northern Pike975NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Skokie Lagoons (FPDCC)Walleye12,960Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Lake Tampier (FPDCC)Northern Pike482NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Lake Tampier (FPDCC)Walleye12,960Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Wolf LakeBluegill x Green Sunfish1,150Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Wolf LakeChannel Catfish12,000Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Wolf LakeLargemouth Bass5,000Fingerling (1 – 3")
2026Wolf LakeNorthern Pike2,231NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2026Wolf LakeRainbow Trout1,204Adult
2026Wolf LakeWalleye33,630Fingerling (1 – 3")
2025Axehead Lake (FPDCC)Bluegill29,981Fingerling (1 – 3")
2025Axehead Lake (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout2,008Adult
2025Beck Lake (FPDCC)Northern Pike162NonVulnerable (8 – 10")
2025Belleau Lake (FPDCC)Rainbow Trout1,600Adult

IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026; rows reach the county through the water they name.

Regulations

Digest limits as they apply in Cook County

Waters of Cook County follow the statewide rows below unless the digest lists them as a site-specific water. An Illinois resident pays $15 for the annual sport fishing license, a nonresident $31.50. On the lakefront, the digest asks for a $6.50 Salmon Stamp to keep trout or salmon.

SpeciesDaily limitRule as printed
Alligator Gar1 per 24 hoursHarvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours.
Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfishno limitThere are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.
Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Other Sunfishno limitThere are no harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.
Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie)no limitThere are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.
Lake Sturgeonno possessionProtected; No possession.
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass6 (combined)Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio (including Golconda Marina), and Wabash Rivers, the d
Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and their Hybridmuskellunge 1, northern pike 3All Muskellunge and Muskellunge hybrids (Tiger Muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. No more than 1 Muskellunge or Muskellunge hybrid (Tiger Muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified u
Paddlefish2Daily harvest limit is 2 Paddlefish. Please refer to Site Specific Regulations for the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa and the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri.
Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybridsno limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longerThere are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17" in total le
Trout and Salmon5 (combined)Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate.
Walleye, Sauger, or their Hybrid6 (combined)All Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid (Saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. Daily harvest limit is 6 Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid, either

Cook County on the lakefront: Lake Michigan rows

SpeciesRule as printed
All FishAll devices used for sport fishing on Lake Michigan must be attended at all times
Lake Trout2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Lake Whitefish or Round Whitefish12 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate
Large or Smallmouth Bass21 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Trout and Salmon10 inch Minimum Length Limit; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate, except for Lake Trout
Yellow Perch15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit (6); Closed May 1 through June 15

Digest exceptions inside Cook County (42)

WaterSpeciesRule as printed (code numbers kept)
Auburn Park LagoonAll Fish2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
Auburn Park LagoonChannel Catfish4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Axehead LakeAll Fish2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)
Axehead LakeBluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Axehead LakeLarge or Smallmouth Bass14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Axehead LakeTroutFall Closed Season (7), Spring Closed Season (8)
Axehead LakeWhite, Black, or Hybrid Crappie15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Beck LakeAll Fish2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)
Beck LakeBluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Beck LakeChannel Catfish6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Beck LakeLarge or Smallmouth Bass14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Beck LakeWalleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Beck LakeWhite, Black, or Hybrid Crappie15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Belleau LakeAll Fish2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)
Belleau LakeBluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Belleau LakeLarge or Smallmouth Bass14 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Belleau LakeTroutFall Closed Season (7), Spring Closed Season (8)
Belleau LakeWhite, Black, or Hybrid Crappie15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Bullfrog LakeAll Fish2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)
Bullfrog LakeBluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.

Records

IDNR record weights from Cook County

SpeciesDivisionWeightWaterDate
Atlantic Salmonhook and line18 lbs 11.25 ozLake MichiganMay 26, 1979
Bighead Carphook and line72 lbs 9 ozHumboldt Park LagoonNov. 6, 2021
Brown Trouthook and line36 lbs 11.5 ozLake MichiganJune 22, 1997
Burbothook and line11 lbs 12.5 ozLake MichiganDec. 7, 2020
Lake Trouthook and line39 lbs 2.6 ozLake MichiganMay 21, 2021
Lake Whitefishhook and line8 lbs 4 ozLake MichiganJune 29, 2018
Smallmouth Basshook and line7 lbs 3 ozLake MichiganOct. 14, 2019
Tiger Trouthook and line8 lbs 12.5 ozLake MichiganJune 26, 1977

IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.

Tournaments

Bass trail and club days in Cook County

3 organizer events tie to Cook County water; 0 are still ahead.

DateEventWaterOrganizer
May 21, 2026IHSA Bass Fishing Sectional at Des Plaines River – Big Basin Marina (2025-26)Des Plaines RiverIllinois High School Association (IHSA)
May 22, 2025IHSA Bass Fishing Sectional at Des Plaines River – Big Basin Marina (2024-25)Des Plaines RiverIllinois High School Association (IHSA)
May 4, 2025IBN Team Series Des Plaines River 2025Des Plaines RiverIllinois B.A.S.S. Nation
Illinois tournaments

Organizer schedule and results pages (IDNR publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.

Loaner tackle

IDNR tackle loaner sites in Cook County

  • Alsip Merrionette Park Library11960 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip, (708) 371-5666
  • Albany Park Branch – Chicago Public Library3401 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago, (773) 539-5450
  • Altgeld Branch – Chicago Public Library955 E 131st Street, Chicago, (312)747-3270
  • Blackstone Branch – Chicago Public Library4904 S. Lake Park Avenue, Chicago, (312) 747-0511
  • Build Chicago5100 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, (872) 813-2675
  • Carver Park Fieldhouse939 E 132nd Street, Chicago, (312)747-6047
  • Chicago Lawn Branch – Chicago Public Library6120 S. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, (312) 747-0639
  • Coleman Branch – Chicago Public Library731 E. 63rd Street, Chicago, (312) 747-7760
  • Douglass Park Branch – Chicago Public Library3353 W. 13th Street, Chicago, (312) 747-3725
  • Dunning Branch Library7455 W. Cornelia Avenue, Chicago, (312)743-0480
  • Hegewisch Branch – Chicago Public Library3048 E. 130th Street, Chicago, (312)747-0046
  • Humboldt Park Branch – Chicago Public Library1605 N. Troy Street, Chicago, (312) 744-2244
  • Legler Regional Library – Chicago Public Library115 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, (312) 746-7730
  • McKinley Branch – Chicago Public Library1915 W. 35th Street, Chicago, (312) 747-6082
  • Richard J. Daley Branch – Chicago Public Library3400 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, (312)747-8990
  • Rogers Park Branch – Chicago Public Library6907 N. Clark Street, Chicago, (312) 744-0156
  • Sherman Branch – Chicago Public Library5440 S. Racine, Chicago, (312) 747-0477
  • Thurgood Marshall Branch – Chicago Public Library7506 S. Racine Avenue, Chicago, (312) 747-5927
  • Uptown Branch – Chicago Public Library929 W. Buena Avenue, Chicago, (312) 744-8400
  • Vodak – Eastside Branch – Chicago Public Library3710 E. 106th Street, Chicago, (312) 747-5500
  • West Belmont Branch – Chicago Public Library3104 N. Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, (312) 746-5142
  • West Ridge Nature Park5801 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, (312) 742-7529
  • William W. Powers Conservation Area12949 S. Avenue O, Chicago, (773) 646-3270
  • Des Plaines Pk. District515 E. Thacker, Des Plaines, (847) 391-5711
  • Evanston Parks Ecology Center2024 McCormick Boulevard, Evanston, (847) 448-8147
  • Eisenhower Public Library – Harwood Heights4618 N Oketo Ave, Harwood Heights, (708) 867-7828
  • Northbrook Park Dist.3323 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, (847) 291-2351
  • River Trail Nature Center3120 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, (847) 824-8360
  • Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center20000 Western Avenue, Olympia Fields, (708) 481-2330
  • Orland Hills Recreation Dept.16033 South 94th Avenue, Orland Park, (708) 349-7211
  • Birchwood Park Salmon Shop/Palatine Park District250 E. Wood Street, Palatine, (847) 705-5123
  • Maine Township Office1700 Ballard Road, Park Ridge, (847) 297-2510
  • Wildwood Nature Center/Park Ridge Park District2701 W. Sibley Avenue, Park Ridge, (847) 692-5127
  • Northwest Special Rec. Assoc.3000 W. Central Road, Ste. 205, Rolling Meadows, (847) 392-2848
  • The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center9800 S. 104th Avenue, Willow Springs, (708) 839-6897

The IDNR tackle loaner program lends rods free of charge at these places.

IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.

Local help

Where Cook County anglers buy tackle

Cook County bait shops

  • Anglers International Resourcesfly shop, Palatine
  • Chicago Fly Fishing Outfittersfly shop, Chicago
  • Corens Rod & Reel Servicebait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • Fishing Connectionbait and tackle shop, Tinley Park
  • Fishtechbait and tackle shop, Morton Grove
  • Hook & Fishbait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • Jj's Bait & Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Bridgeview
  • Lee's Bait & Tackle, 23 Arlington Heights Rdbait and tackle shop, Elk Grove Village
  • MidWest Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Lyons
  • Mystery Tackle Box Incbait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • Park Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • R & B Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • South Bend Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Northbrook
  • Stealth Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lansing
  • The Anglers Outletfly shop, Tinley Park
  • The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Dolton
  • The Henry Palmisano Memorial Fishing Foundationbait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • Wentworth Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Chicago
  • Belmont Harbormarina, Chicago
  • Cabela's Hoffman Estatessporting goods store, Hoffman Estates
  • Cal-Side Marinamarina, Chicago
  • Canal Street Marinamarina, Chicago
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Arlington Heightssporting goods store, Arlington Heights
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Chicago, 1538 N. Clybourn Avenuesporting goods store, Chicago
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Chicago, 9800 Ridgeland Avenuesporting goods store, Chicago
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Glenviewsporting goods store, Glenview
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Nilessporting goods store, Niles
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Norridgesporting goods store, Norridge
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Northbrooksporting goods store, Northbrook
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Orland Park, 15852 S La Grange Rdsporting goods store, Orland Park

Cook County fishing guides

Yellow Pages, chain store and IDNR license vendor listings; guide and charter association pages (matched by the waters they list or their county), read November 4, 2026.

Nearby

Down the county road from Cook County

Main streets of Cook County near water

Counties around Cook County

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Photos

Timber, cornfield and water around Cook County through a lens

Lake Michigan, Illinois
Lake Michigan 8.5 mi
Photo: D.L, CC BY-SA 2.0
Burnham Harbor, Illinois
Burnham Harbor 4.1 mi
Photo: bradhoc, CC BY 2.0
Diversey Harbor, Illinois
Diversey Harbor 6.9 mi
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
Montrose Harbor, Illinois
Montrose Harbor 8.9 mi
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers

Questions on Cook County ponds, lakes and rivers

Where does a johnboat hit the water across Cook County?

68 launches on the IDNR layers; Lake Michigan Gillson Park Canoe/Kayak Launch is one.

Which lake is largest in Cook County?

Wolf Lake, at 380 acres by the IDNR listing.

What species do lake pages around Cook County list?

Largemouth bass tops the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by bluegill, channel catfish and black crappie.

Is any crawler-and-minnow store open in Cook County?

Anglers International Resources heads a list of 46.

Is there free fishing gear to borrow in Cook County?

IDNR lists 35 loaner sites here, starting with Alsip Merrionette Park Library in Alsip.

Where are Cook County county offices?

The seat is Chicago.

Which Illinois license does Cook County fishing call for?

An Illinois resident pays $15 for the annual sport fishing license, a nonresident $31.50. On the lakefront, the digest asks for a $6.50 Salmon Stamp to keep trout or salmon.

Which counties border Cook County?

Lake County, DuPage County and Will County lie closest.

Which Cook County event comes up next on a trail schedule?

Organizers posted 3 events for this county, and none is scheduled ahead yet.

Does the digest list Cook County lakes separately?

The digest lists 42 site-specific entries for waters in or by this county, starting with Auburn Park Lagoon; the table above shows each.

Has IDNR released fish into Cook County water?

The IDNR table carries 120 rows; the newest lists 54,254 Sauger, Fingerling (1 – 3") (2026) in Des Plaines River.

Which IDNR records trace to Cook County?

Atlantic Salmon, 18 lbs 11.25 oz, May 26, 1979 (hook and line), from Lake Michigan.

Is there lakefront fishing in Cook County?

The lakefront gives Cook County 11 harbors on the IDNR Lake Michigan page and 11 stocked lagoons.

Spend a Saturday on the lakes of Cook County

Each launch page opens with a directions link.

All Illinois countiesIllinois fishing rules