A fishing trip can be a perfect weekend getaway, but you don’t even need to leave the Chicago area to find a great fishing spot. Whether you’re looking for a scenic road trip destination or prefer to stay closer to home, you can enjoy some of the best fishing spots near Chicago this summer.
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City Fishing
Montrose Harbor
Found in the northern part of Lincoln Park, Montrose Harbor is one of Chicagoland’s best and most popular fishing destinations. The harbor is home to perch, steelhead, coho, king salmon and various kinds of trout. While plenty of people are content to fish off the points, charters are also a popular option if you want easy access to the larger fish further from shore.
River Park
While the Chicago River offers lots of overlooked fishing spots in the city, the best spot has to be River Park, located at Foster Ave. behind the North Park College stadium. Here, the North Shore Channel meets the north branch of the river, creating an intersection for all kinds of traveling fish. The spillway dam makes it an even better spot. It’s especially known for crappie and largemouth bass.
Further Afield
Heidecke Lake
5010 N. Jugtown Road, Morris, IL
About an hour west of downtown, the Heidecke Lake Fish & Wildlife Area has more than 1,300 acres, filled with walleye, bass and channel catfish.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
26313 Burlington Road, Kansasville, WI
In addition to hiking, biking, camping, and swimming, the Richard Bong State Recreation area offers great fishing spots on Wolf Lake and at the urban fishing pond. It’s especially nice for teaching kids to fish for the first time, since you can check out basic fishing equipment free of charge from the park office. The Richard Bong State Recreation Area is located near Kenosha, WI, about an hour north of Chicago.
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