Welcome to the area! Being a former Michigander myself, I know how it is to not know where to go... Well I've got good news and bad news...
First, Illinois has NO rivers where the fish come in to spawn. However, we do have several harbors that have fish return. You can start downtown and fish at Brunham harbor (behind soldier field) or work your way north to montrose harbor, those are the two most popular spots. You can also take a trip farther north to Waukegan habor which is very good too, and easier to fish at all hours of the night.

If you are dead set on fishing rivers (like we have in MI) then you are going to have to go into Wisconsin. The closest being in Racine.
Hope that helps!

 

A short drive back to Michigan.
The St. Joes river in Berrien county.

 

yep.

depending on where you are living in IL, MI or WI is the answer.

there might be some streams in N. Indiana as well, I've seen guys parked along side the interstate in the spring and fall, fishing them.

As another ex-michigan resident, I can suggest:

Galien River out of New Buffalo, MI might have them.
The St. Joe.
The Kalamazoo

 

salmon in the river

Dont you think that some of the Salmon swim into the Chicago River? The lake flows right into it!

 

Re: salmon in the river

Dont you think that some of the Salmon swim into the Chicago River?

No, they swim into the harbors into which they were planted as fry or fingerlings. There may be an occasional stray one in the Chicago river, but generally, no.

 

12poundeye... You can always take the 3 hour drive up to Sheboygan, WI and fish the sheboygan river... But on one stretch of the river by the dam you will have to purchase a pass for 250 bucks, and that comes with a wildlife sticker for your vehicle. Thats so you don't get towed and to show permission. This river is great because you have lots of great respectful fisherman and most people are catch n release out there. Plus there are not many fisherman there like as the root river is fishing shoulder to shoulder like a bunch of hicks... There is a great dam there and it's where I started my first ever flyfishing trip when I was 5.. The river is Beautiful.. the water is much clearer than the root river in racine or the pike creek. But the root river in racine is just jamm packed with fisherman and as I hear some of the salmon are already starting to die off this year but theres lots to be caught. The salmon come back to the harbors and river only because they somehow know where they are going and go back to where they were hatched at or stocked so they can lay their eggs and die after 3-5 years(It's amazing how big they can get in that short of time). It's a repeating process. But your best bet is get a yearly membership for the Sheboygan River. In the spring it is killer for steelhead.. even some skamania are found there and lots of big brown trout. I don't like to post other links on this site. but for this question I will. Your best best is to Sign-Up on www.steelheadsite.com It's a great site but don't believe some of the junk on there or some of the reports I should say. Some guys will post a report and say they were at the root river and saw no fish but actually there were hundreds that they have seen. I usually use it only to check the river/creek flows. Well I hope this helps.

---Tight-Lines---