![A man waist deep in water holding a silver fish and his fishing rod](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_width_600/public/2021-01/usfws_89926584.jpg?itok=OtCwetXY)
The refuge offers fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout. The Illinois River is the only area on the refuge open to fishing. The refuge is closed to fishing June 1-July 31 to reduce impact on nesting birds. The river ices over by November and does not typically open again until May. Fall (August-October) is the best time to fish on the refuge.
Laws, rules, and regulations