🐟 What fish can you catch in North Chicago?

Most commonly caught species around North Chicago , IL : Largemouth bass - 54,237 reported catches Bluegill - 6,845 reported catches Northern pike - 5,152 reported catches Smallmouth bass - 4,228 reported catches Black crappie - 3,746 reported catches .

📢 What are the latest North Chicago fishing reports?

The latest North Chicago , IL fishing reports are: @A.garibaldi32 reported a nice Black crappie at Bode Lakes . @brady.fredericks reported a nice Largemouth bass at Oak Park . @matthew.loveall reported a nice Largemouth bass . @fish_whisperer_2012 reported a nice Bluegill at Happy Acres Park . @TomekWroblewski reported a nice Yellow bullhead at Addison Creek . .

Fishing in North Chicago, IL

Q: 🎣 Where to fish in North Chicago, Illinois?

Anglers in North Chicago , IL recommend these top fishing spots: Des Plaines River , Lake Michigan (WI) , Lake Michigan (IL) , Independence Grove , Skokie Lagoons .

Q: 📅 What is the best time to go fishing in North Chicago?

Download the Fishbrain app and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for North Chicago , 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 North Chicago

Latest North Chicago fishing reports

Black crappie

Bode Lakes

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Oak Park

14 in · 1 lb

Largemouth bass

length · weight

Bluegill

Happy Acres Park

length · weight

Yellow bullhead

Addison Creek

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Taylor Lake

length · weight

Freshwater drum

Algonquin Dam

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Chestnut Park

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Chestnut Park

length · weight

Largemouth bass

Heritage Lake

15 in · 2 lb

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Fishing regulations in North Chicago

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 April 1st, 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

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.

Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

42°19′1.9″N 87°51′34.6″W

Regulations in the map

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FAQ about North Chicago fishing

Anglers in North Chicago, IL recommend these top fishing spots: Des Plaines River, Lake Michigan (WI), Lake Michigan (IL), Independence Grove, and Skokie Lagoons.

Most commonly caught species around North Chicago, IL:

Largemouth bass - 54,237 reported catches
Bluegill - 6,845 reported catches
Northern pike - 5,152 reported catches
Smallmouth bass - 4,228 reported catches
Black crappie - 3,746 reported catches

The latest North Chicago, IL fishing reports are:

@A.garibaldi32 reported a nice Black crappie at Bode Lakes.
@brady.fredericks reported a nice Largemouth bass at Oak Park.
@matthew.loveall reported a nice Largemouth bass.
@fish_whisperer_2012 reported a nice Bluegill at Happy Acres Park.
@TomekWroblewski reported a nice Yellow bullhead at Addison Creek.

Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for North Chicago, 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: