ILLINOISDEPARTMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker,
Governor|illinois.gov

Aquatic Organisms

Filter by Tags:  

An underwater photo of three red and brown salmon in a stream with a rocky stream bed.

The Great Egg-scapade: Collecting the next generation of Lake Michigan salmon

November 2, 2026 by Kayleigh Smith

Aquatic Organisms | Fish | Fisheries Pick | Fishing

A group of people gather around a table. A woman pours crayfish from a white plastic bucket into a smaller clear plastic bucket sitting atop the table. A girl watches beside the woman. Across the table are two people wearing neon green vests. In the background is a sun dappled lawn with trees interspersed throughout.

Rusty Rodeo Event Brings Generations Together for Hands-on Conservation

November 2, 2026 by Natalia Szklaruk, Katie O’Reilly

Aquatic Organisms | Habitat Management or Enhancement

On a sun-dappled lawn two girls pose on either side of a woman. The woman is kneeling. In the background is a freshwater pond with trees on the shoreline.

Beyond the Catch: Connecting people to the natural world through fishing

November 2, 2026 by Cheryl Smith

Aquatic Organisms | Fishing

In the middle of a snowy winter ice covered freshwater lake rests a pile of used Christmas trees, concrete blocks and black flexible piping held together with rigid white PVC pipes configured into a cube shapes. In the background tree covered hills rise up from the snowy shoreline. A cloudy overcast sky is above.

Enhancing Fish Habitat

November 2, 2026 by Kathy Andrews Wright

Aquatic Organisms | Fishing | Habitat Management or Enhancement

Three people in cool weather gear stand on a boat on a river while each one holds a tan fish with a snout and forked tail fins. In the background is a limestone bluff rising above the river. Woodland fills the shoreline below the bluff.

Powerful Partnerships Gone Nuclear: Restoring lake sturgeon to Illinois waters

August 3, 2026 by Hugh Gabriel

Aquatic Organisms | Fishing | Habitat Management or Enhancement

Man wearing green holding a fish against a white board that it marked off in inches.

How Big is That Fish?

August 3, 2026 by Kayleigh Smith

Aquatic Organisms | Fishing

A close-up on a counter-top of an orange prescription bottle on its side with a few white capsules fallen out onto the counter outside of the bottle. In the background are more medicines and pill bottles.

The Evolution of the International Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal

May 1, 2026 by Addison Harms, Lyla Donovan

Aquatic Organisms | Wildlife Health

A large dark green and white fish is held by both hands of a biologist. One hand is on the tail of the fish, and the other is supporting the head of the fish. The fish is supported by a net.

Largemouth Bass Production at Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery

May 1, 2026 by Kayleigh Smith

Aquatic Organisms | Fish | Fishing

Two gentlemen sit at a long blue table in front of a row of windows. The men hold up a folder with two documents on display.

Creating the First 100% Fisheries in the World

May 1, 2026 by David Naftzger, John Schmidt

Aquatic Organisms | Fishing

Three young boys and men in the background watch as a woman teaches all how to clean a fish for the table. In the background is a sun dappled lawn with trees and a parking lot.

Gar in Illinois: The misunderstood native “dinosaur” fish

May 1, 2026 by Gretchen Steele

Aquatic Organisms | Fish | Fishing

A close-up of a dragonfly with a brownish red head and thorax and a bright red abdomen.

Watching Dragons and Damsels

May 1, 2026 by Sheryl DeVore

Aquatic Organisms | Invertebrates | Research

A man stands in a parking lot holding up with both hands a large fish.

Available Soon, the 2026 Fishing Regulations Guide

February 2, 2026 by Kathy Andrews Wright

Aquatic Organisms | Fishing | Regulations

A small tan fish with a black stripe running down its side swims on a black background.

A Little Learning About Some Little Fish

February 2, 2026 by Kayleigh Smith

Aquatic Organisms | Fish

A close-up of two blue-gray catfish resting on the bottom of a pebbly stream.

Blue Catfish in Illinois: History, ecology and a growing fishery

February 2, 2026 by Gretchen Steele

Aquatic Organisms | Fish | Fishing | Rivers and Lakes

A brown fish resting on the shallow edge of a rocky steam.

Tiny Threatened Fish Species Re-introduced for the First Time

February 2, 2026 by Hugh Gabriel

Aquatic Organisms | Endangered and Threatened Species | Fish | Fisheries Pick | Habitat Management or Enhancement | Rivers and Lakes

A red-eared slider turtle basks on a log in the water.

The Invasive Red-eared Slider

November 3, 2025 by Laura Kammin, Scott Ballard

Aquatic Organisms

A group of children at two long tables paint with watercolors. Some children behind the painters watch the process.
A beautiful bright partly cloudy sky is reflected in a river as a canoe with many passengers paddles by. In the background is a tree-filled shoreline.
On an early spring day, a group of people stand in front of a pond.

Responding to an Insidious Invader: Tackling a hydrilla outbreak

November 3, 2025 by Claire Snyder

Aquatic Organisms | Invasive Species | Rivers and Lakes

A long brown speckled fish hides under some fallen tree branches.

The Bowfin: Illinois’ Living Fossil

November 3, 2025 by Gretchen Steele

Aquatic Organisms | Fish | Fishing | Regulations

Explore Our Family of Websites

A link the CICADA web site.
A link the Hunt Illinois web site.
A link the Outdoor Illinois Journal web site.
A link to request a nuisance animal removal permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
A link the Wildlife Illinois web site with advertisements for its four sections: Help, Sightings, Wildlife Identification, and Prevent Problems.