[Jaxom]

Noticed someone asked about froggin' at forest preserve lakes, what about crawdad traps? I know you can, but I can't find any information on creel size or limits, and/or restrictions for when traps can be set.

[trapshooter07]

CRAYFISH
It is a violation of state law to import, possess,
sell or use as bait live rusty crayfish within the
State of Illinois. The rusty crayfish may be distinguished
by a dark rusty spot on both sides
of the carapace and a rusty-red band followed
by a dark stripe on the large pincers (claws).
This species destroys aquatic vegetation and
eats the eggs of various fishes, which negatively
affects fish reproduction.

Crayfish, except endangered or threatened
species, may be taken for bait, using legal
sized cast nets, shad scoops, and minnow
seines, provided that they are not sold or
bartered. All cast nets shall not be larger than
8 feet in diameter or of a mesh size not larger
than 3/8 inch bar measurement. All shad
scoops shall not be larger than 30 inches in
diameter or of a mesh size not larger than 1/2
inch bar measurement or longer than 4 feet in
length. Minnow seines shall not be longer than
20 feet, deeper than 6 feet or contain mesh
size larger than 1/2 inch bar measurement.

Crayfish may be collected with traps of metal
screen or hardware cloth, plastic, or nylon
mesh or netting. Such traps may not be more
than 24 inches in width or diameter or more
than 36 inches in length nor use a mesh of
more than 1/2 inch bar measurement. Each
entrance aperture may not exceed 1 1/2 inches
in diameter. If unattended, such devices must
be tagged with the name and mailing address
of the person operating the device. Crayfish
collected in such devices may only be taken for
personal use and may not be sold or bartered.

UNATTENDED DEVICES
Any unattended devices used to catch aquatic
life or to hold aquatic life is required to
have the anglerʼs name and address clearly
displayed on the device.

For dupage fp's the only thing you have to follow is #1, and for cook fp's you have to follow 1 and 38. I could see how 38 could be a tough spot. How exactly can you distinguis a minno trap from a crayfish trap.? This is all straight out of the fishing digest and site regs. Make sure you tag those traps or their gettin stolen or you might get a ticket

1) Anglers must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not
have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing, except that
legal size cast nets, (in accordance with subsection 810.50(a)(1))
shad scoops, and minnow seines may be used to obtain shad,
minnows, and crayfish to use as bait, provided that they are not
sold, and except that bullfrogs may be taken by hand, gig, pitchfork,
spear, landing net, and hook and line during bullfrog season.

38) Except that sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, minnow
trap, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting in the following
water areas: Charleston Lower Channel Lake tailwaters from that
portion of the Embarras River from the Charleston Lower Channel
Lake Dam downstream to the Route 130 Bridge; Clinton Lake tailwaters
from that portion of Salt Creek from the Clinton Dam downstream
to the Route 10 Bridge. Cook County Forest Preserve
District waters (except in the Des Plaines River); Lake Decatur tailwaters
from that portion of the Sangamon River from the Lake
Decatur Dam downstream to the Route 48 Bridge.

[Fish Bio]

You cannot collect or trap crasyfish or minnows in DuPage Forest Preserves under their ordinanaces.