Fishing in
Lake County
Lake County, Illinois has 129 named fishable waters, 4 of them with stocking records on the books.
On the map
112 waters
Waters in Lake County
- Sterling Lakelake13× stocked
- Gages Lakelake10× stocked
- Diamond Lakelake6× stocked
- Hastings Lakelake5× stocked
- Nippersink Lakelake2,493 ac
- Grass Lakelake1,582 ac
- Lake Marielake595 ac
- Long Lakelake386 ac
- Channel Lakelake366 ac
- Bangs Lakelake305 ac
- Cedar Lakelake298 ac
- Fourth Lakelake297 ac
- Round Lakereservoir238 ac
- Lake Zurichlake233 ac
- Deep Lakelake224 ac
- Slocum Lakelake210 ac
- Redwing Slough Lakelake202 ac
- Petite Lakelake196 ac
- East Loon Lakelake188 ac
- Loon Lakelake166 ac
- Lake Catherinelake164 ac
- Third Lakelake154 ac
- Countryside Lakelake141 ac
- Crooked Lakelake139 ac
- Duck Lakelake113 ac
- Saint Marys Lakereservoir106 ac
- Highland Lakelake101 ac
- Bluff Lakelake101 ac
- Sand Lakelake101 ac
- Wooster Lakelake97 ac
99 more on the map above.
What you'll catch here
- Channel Catfish3 waters
- Muskellunge2 waters
- Northern Pike2 waters
- Largemouth Bass1 waters
- Walleye1 waters
Latest stockings
- Sterling LakeWalleyeJan 1, 2026
- Hastings LakeNorthern PikeJan 1, 2026
- Gages LakeNorthern PikeJan 1, 2026
- Sterling LakeChannel CatfishJan 1, 2025
- Gages LakeNorthern PikeJan 1, 2025
- Gages LakeLargemouth BassJan 1, 2025
- Sterling LakeMuskellungeJan 1, 2025
- Diamond LakeMuskellungeJan 1, 2025
- Gages LakeChannel CatfishJan 1, 2025
- Diamond LakeChannel CatfishJan 1, 2025
All Illinois counties → · Fishing in Illinois →
Lake County fishing — FAQ
Where can I fish in Lake County, Illinois?+
Lake County has 129 named fishable waters, 4 with stocking records. The map above shows every one.
What fish are stocked in Lake County?+
Waters in Lake County hold channel catfish, muskellunge, northern pike and largemouth bass. See each water's page for its full stocking history.
Do I need a license to fish in Lake County?+
Yes — Illinois requires a fishing license statewide. Buy one from the state agency before you go.