Fishing on the Wild Mile!

About this event

Come fish the Wild Mile!

During the worst of our waterway's polluted history, only 5 species of fish could be found in the Chicago River. Now, there are a whopping 77 - and many of them nest, mate, shelter, and feed around the Wild Mile! Pumpkinseed, bluegill, bass, carp, and bullhead are among the most common, but who knows what you might find! Join us monthly to learn how to safely catch them!

These events will be run by our River Ranger volunteers during the peak fishing seasons of 2026 (spring and fall). We'll have bait and fishing gear for you - though feel free to bring your own pole if you have one! We also have blanket fishing permits from the IDNR for these events, so anyone can participate.

Youth participation is highly encouraged, though parent/guardian supervision is required with a ratio of at least 1:3! Please note that we do not have enough rods, or enough volunteers, to have more than around 15-20 people actively fishing at once. You may need to wait a bit for a turn with a rod if it's an especially busy day!

From Urban Rivers