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You are here: Home / Spring Activities / Fishing Fun for Families in the Champaign-Urbana Area

Fishing Fun for Families in the Champaign-Urbana Area

March 27, 2022 By From The Editors

As fishing season arrives in Central Illinois, here are some things you need to know

 

The best places to fish in Champaign-Urbana, where to buy fishing gear, family friendly fishing events and more

Grab your tackle box, slather on the sunscreen and introduce your kids to a favorite pastime this summer. We’re fortunate to be surrounded by great bodies of water in town or within a short drive from Champaign-Urbana. Mahomet to Homer, Penfield to Clinton and all throughout Illinois, you can get an Illinois fishing license and have tons of family fun all year long.

Fishing Around Champaign-Urbana

Whether fishing is something you have enjoyed your whole life or you are brand new to fishing and would like to give it a go, we have all kinds of info for you.

Typically, we see “learn to fish” events hosted by our forest preserves and park districts in Champaign County. We are looking forward to the return of these popular events this season.

What are the most popular places to fish around Champaign-Urbana?

Here’s a good list of places you might like to fish in our area:

  • Colbert Park, Savoy, all catch and release
  • Kaufman Lake, Champaign
  • Crystal Lake Park, Urbana
  • Lake of the Woods, Mahomet
  • Riverbend Forest Preserve, Mahomet
  • Homer Lake, Homer
  • Forest Glen Preserve, Westville
  • Lake Vermilion County Park, Danville
  • Clinton Lake
  • Moraine View State Recreation Area
  • Kickapoo State Park, Oakwood
  • Lake Shelbyville (Get a boat and make a whole day of it!)
  • Lake Sara, Effingham (Get a boat and make a whole day of it!)
  • Weldon Springs State Park

Fishing Licenses

Anyone 16 years of age and older needs to have a current fishing license to fish in Illinois. Children do not need a license. You can get a 24-hour fishing license for $5.50, but why not just get a full year of fishing fun in Illinois for $15? If you have grandparents who want to fish with you, licenses are $7.75 for adults 65 and older.

Buy themĀ online on the DNR site. Some local stores will have options to buy them, too.

What You Need to Start Fishing

    1. Fishing rod and some hooks — You can get some basic fishing equipment at many local stores such as Rural King, Target, Walmart, Meijer or Field and Stream. You don’t need much; just one pole to share with your kids, or one for each person if you’d like them to have their own. You’ll see tons of accessories you can buy and while you may be tempted to spend a lot up front, it’s certainly not necessary. If you’re squeamish about the idea of touching the fish you catch, you may want to pick up a pair of inexpensive fishing gloves. They’ll protect your hands from being cut by the fish as you remove it from the hook.
    2. Bait — When you are ready to head to the lake, you’ll want to pick up some live bait. You can get them at Walmart but we prefer to find a Casey’s near where we’re going to be fishing. In addition to Walmart and Casey’s, you’ll find live bait at Rural King and Field and Stream, as well as many small town gas stations. Some places (but none we know of in C-U) even have “bait vending machines,” which will be amusing for your kids if you stumble upon one.

Want to borrow gear to give it a try?

The tackle loaner program through the state of Illinois works a lot like renting library books … with fishing equipment! According to the program’s website, there are locations to check out equipment in our area at:

  • Savoy Recreation Center
  • Rantoul Public Library and Rantoul Recreation Department
  • Weldon Springs
  • Kennekuk Cove County Park
  • Allerton Park 4-H Camp

Reach out to the appropriate contact at each location, found here, to ensure there is equipment available to borrow.

Fishing at Riverbend Forest Preserve in Mahomet
Fishing at Riverbend Forest Preserve.

When You’re at the Lake

If you’ve been fishing before, you have a good idea on how to get set up when you arrive. Make sure your pole is casting properly, snag a worm and put it on the hook before dropping it into the water. Hopefully, before long, you or someone in your group will have the thrill of a catch! But be prepared for some waiting around if that’s not the case. It’s good to set kids up with the expectation that maybe we will catch a fish, just in case you end up with nothing that day. Regardless, take in the sunshine and enjoy the day.

Check the policies based on where and when you’re fishing to see if you need to catch-and-release right away or if you’re free to take a certain number of fish home. Personally, we like catch-and-release because we mostly catch bluegill and other small fish around this area. There’s the occasional bass or catfish, though, and I suppose we could take those and eat them if we wanted to do that work. And if you happen to pull a trout out of the water, you need to make sure you have trout stamps if you’re going to be keeping it – there are designated seasons to fish for trout and Kaufman Lake and Lake of the Woods are the local options in Champaign-Urbana.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has a great website for all things fishing that you can check outĀ  for more tips.

UPCOMING FISHING EVENTS AROUND CHAMPAIGN-URBANA

Are you new to fishing or want to test it out before you invest in your own gear? Each summer, there are many events happening through the Champaign-Urbana community for precisely this purpose. See a list below of upcoming events:

No Events

More on all your favorite outdoor activities:

  • Gardens and Flower Farms in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
  • Where to Go Boating with Your Family Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Hiking Trails For Families in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Visiting Champaign-Urbana Area Parks and Playgrounds with your Family
  • Fishing Fun for Families in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Walk Your Way Through Champaign-Urbana
  • Avoid the Mud and Muck with Mulch-Free Playgrounds in Champaign-Urbana
  • Great Places for a Picnic in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Family-Friendly Bike Trails in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Creek Stomping Your Way Around Champaign-Urbana
  • Camping with Your Family Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Parks Minus Playgrounds We Love Around Champaign-Urbana
  • 6 Places to Experience Nature with Kids Near Champaign-Urbana

Top spots for outdoor recreation near Champaign-Urbana:

  • Everything You Need to Know About Visiting River Bend Forest Preserve in Mahomet
  • Cool Off at the Homer Lake Natural Playscape
  • Visiting Clinton Lake With Your Family
  • Visiting Imagination Grove Near Bloomington-Normal
  • Meet Me Halfway: Kankakee River State Park
  • Hidden Treasure in Central Illinois: Weldon Springs State Park
  • The Perfect Family Hike: Explore the Sangamon River Forest Preserve near Fisher
  • Best Kept Secret: Buffalo Trace Prairie in Mahomet
  • Getaway for a Day: Matthiessen State Park
  • Best Kept Secret: Forest Glen Preserve
  • Hiking the Sangamon River Corridor Reserve in Monticello with your Family
  • What to Do at Kickapoo State Recreation Area
  • What To Do At Turkey Run State Park With Your Family
  • Everything You Need To Know about Visiting Homer Lake Forest Preserve with Your Family
  • What To Do At Moraine View State Recreation Area With Your Family
  • Visiting Lake of the Woods in Mahomet with Children
  • 8 Reasons You’ll Love Visiting Allerton Park with Your Family
  • At Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, Darkness is the Star
  • Parent’s Guide to Busey Woods in Urbana

Get ready for summer in Champaign-Urbana:

  • End of Summer Pool Closings and Hour Changes
  • Champaign County Fair Fun for Families: Preview, Highlights, Tips and Ways to Save
  • Blueberry Picking Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Summer Parades in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Best Midwest Summer Road Trips for Champaign-Urbana Families
  • Beaches Within a Short Driving Distance of Champaign-Urbana
  • How to Celebrate Juneteenth Around Champaign-Urbana
  • 8 Great Summer Festivals in Central Illinois
  • Champaign-Urbana Area Fourth of July FIREWORKS!
  • 50+ Ways to Have Summer Fun on a Budget In and Around Champaign-Urbana
  • Summer Fun in Chicago: Free Days at the Best Museums
  • Champaign-Urbana Area Summer Fairs and Festivals
  • Splash Pads Around Champaign-Urbana
  • Strawberry Picking Near Champaign-Urbana
  • How to Celebrate the Fourth of July in Champaign-Urbana
  • Champaign-Urbana Area Outdoor Swimming Pools
  • Champaign-Urbana Area Summer Reading Programs
  • Where to Go Boating with Your Family Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Free and Cheap Outdoor Movies in Champaign-Urbana
  • Have the Ultimate Outdoor Summer with Kids in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Summer Fun for Families in Champaign-Urbana
  • Farmers Markets in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
  • Outdoor Concerts in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
  • Free Summer Kids Movies Return to Savoy
  • Where to See a Baseball Game Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Visiting Champaign-Urbana Area Parks and Playgrounds with your Family
  • Things to Do for Teens (and Tweens) This Summer in Champaign-Urbana
  • Fishing Fun for Families in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Swim Teams in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
  • Where to Take Swim Lessons in Champaign-Urbana
  • Champaign-Urbana Summer Camps for Kids

Click here for everything summer

Filed Under: Outdoor Fun, Spring Activities, Summer Activities, Things To Do in CU Tagged With: Colbert Park, Crystal Lake Park, fishing, Fishing Champaign-Urbana, fishing Illinois, Homer, Homer Lake, license, Mahomet, riverbend forest preserve, summer activities, summer season, Ultimate Outdoor Champaign-Urbana

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