Best fishing near River Forest
14 fishing spots · 14 ranked · updated 2026-06-22 · off-season
Explore the best fishing near River Forest, Illinois — every spot ranked by our conditions-aware Snoflo score: live conditions first, then visitor reviews and logged trips. Click a pin on the map for the score and what's driving it.
Showing the top 14 of 14 fishing spots · best 15 shown on the map
B⛰
#1
Busse Lake
Fair
13.5 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Showers Likely · 58°F · 20 mph wind
Busse Lake, located in Cook County, Illinois, is a popular fishing destination for anglers of all skill levels. The lake is home to several fish species, including largemouth…
Why 51: live conditions (fair)
51Solid
W⛰
#2
Wilmette Harbor
Good
14.5 mi away
· Nearby flows near normal· Showers Likely · 57°F · 20 mph wind
Wilmette Harbor is a popular fishing area in Illinois, offering a variety of fish species including Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Brown Trout, and Lake Trout. Nearby activities…
Why 51: live conditions (good)
51Solid
L⛰
#3
Lacey Creek
Fair
12.7 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Windy · 25 mph
Lacey Creek is a popular fishing spot located in Illinois, USA. The creek is home to a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie. Nearby…
Why 48: live conditions (fair)
48Rated
S⛰
#4
Skokie Lagoons
Fair
14.6 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Showers Likely · 57°F · 20 mph wind
Skokie Lagoons is a popular fishing area in Illinois, USA. It is home to various fish species such as largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, and crappie. The area also has…
Why 48: live conditions (fair)
48Rated
B⛰
#5
Barth Pond
Fair
11.9 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Windy · 25 mph
Barth Pond is a popular fishing spot located in Illinois, USA. The pond is home to a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Nearby…
Why 47: live conditions (fair)
47Rated
S⛰
#6
Skokie Ditch
Good
14.3 mi away
· Nearby flows near normal· Showers Likely · 57°F · 20 mph wind
The Skokie Ditch Fishing Area is located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to a variety of fish species, including bass, bluegill, catfish, and carp. Nearby…
Why 47: live conditions (good)
47Rated
A⛰
#7
Axehead Lake
Good
8.2 mi away
· Nearby flows above normal· Rising fast · likely muddy· Showers Likely · 58°F · 20 mph wind
Axehead Lake is a popular fishing destination in Illinois, USA. The lake is home to various fish species, including bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. The nearby area offers…
Why 45: live conditions (good)
45Rated
B⛰
#8
Belleau Lake
Fair
10.0 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Showers Likely · 58°F · 20 mph wind
Belleau Lake in Illinois is a popular fishing spot for anglers. The lake is known for its abundance of fish species such as bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. Nearby activities…
Why 45: live conditions (fair)
45Rated
D⛰
#9
Des Plaines River
Fair
5.6 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Windy · 25 mph
Located in northeast Illinois, the Des Plaines River is a great place to go fishing. The river is home to a variety of fish species, including smallmouth and largemouth bass…
Why 44: live conditions (fair)
44Rated
B⛰
#10
Burnham Park Harbor
Fair
10.9 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Windy · 25 mph
Burnham Park Harbor is a popular fishing spot in Illinois located near downtown Chicago. It's known for its diverse range of fish species, including bass, walleye, trout, and…
Why 45: live conditions (fair)
45Rated
B⛰
#11
Beck Lake
Good
12.7 mi away
· Nearby flows near normal· Showers Likely · 57°F · 20 mph wind
Beck Lake is a popular fishing spot in Illinois, known for its abundance of bass, crappie, and bluegill. Nearby activities include hiking, biking, and picnicking at the nearby…
Why 44: live conditions (good)
44Rated
M⛰
#12
Maple Lake
Fair
13.0 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Windy · 25 mph
Maple Lake is located in Illinois, USA and is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts. The lake is well-stocked with a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish…
Why 44: live conditions (fair)
44Rated
S⛰
#13
South Lagoon
Fair
14.8 mi away
· Rising fast · likely muddy· Blown out · high & rising· Windy · 25 mph
The South Lagoon Fishing Area is a popular spot for anglers in Illinois, USA. The area is home to a variety of fish species, including bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. Nearby…
Why 44: live conditions (fair)
44Rated
M⛰
#14
Montrose Harbor
Good
10.4 mi away
· Nearby flows above normal· Rising fast · likely muddy· Showers Likely · 58°F · 20 mph wind
Montrose Harbor is a popular fishing spot located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is an ideal spot to catch salmon, trout, bass, and panfish. Nearby activities include running…
Why 42: live conditions (good)
42Rated
Fishing near River Forest
The River Forest area has 14 fishing spots on Snoflo, ranked by live conditions, visitor reviews, and logged trips — so the best, closest options rise to the top.
How we rank the best fishing near River Forest
How are these fishing spots ranked?
Each gets a daily Snoflo score blending live conditions, visitor review ratings, and logged trips. The order reflects what's best right now and re-ranks every day.
How often does it update?
Daily, as new conditions, reviews, and trips arrive — so "best right now" means right now.
What do the numbers on the map mean?
Each pin shows that spot's current Snoflo score; tap it for the breakdown and a link to the full report.