Fish

Surveys and Stocking Programs

The Forest Preserve District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources stock 30,000 to 40,000 fish annually at 26 DuPage County lakes. Species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, northern pike, walleye, crappie, rainbow trout, yellow perch, redear sunfish, grass carp and muskellunge. 

Each year, the District and the IDNR also survey nine to 12 DuPage County lakes for populations, structure, reproduction, growth rate and overall health of each species, covering all forest preserve lakes over a 3-year period. For a list of fish stocked in forest preserve lakes and rivers, download the Fish-Stocking Report.