General Information The "Land of Lincoln" is a midwestern plains state that covers 55,646 square miles of farmland, plains, flooded lowlands, and forests. Sandstone bluffs that overlook the mighty Mississippi create a natural boundary along the Iowa and Missouri borders. The Ozark Mountains begin in the foothills of Illinois, and the state's public lands and state and national forests create a popular recreational setting enjoyed by residents and non-residents alike. Capital City: Springfield Largest City: Chicago National Parks and Forests: Shawnee National Forest Sport Fishing Illinois sport fishing does not compare to other states' due to its lack of water resources and limited growing season. The state's relatively flat terrain limits groundwater supplies, and most watersheds take the form of lakes and ponds. Rivers and streams are present but are usually silted and turbid. Of importance to anglers visiting Illinois is Lake Michigan and its tributaries. Coho and chinook salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, and lake trout have been introduced to Lake Michigan and are stocked in some of its tributaries. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, white bass, hybrid bass, northern pike, and muskellunge are found in Illinois' rivers, ponds, and lakes and are favorites among anglers. Hunting Wildlife resources available to resident hunters and visiting hunters include: white-tailed deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, woodchuck, pheasant, Hungarian partridge, bobwhite quail, mourning dove, woodcock, snipe, ducks, geese, fox, and coyote. For information on licensing, seasons, limits, rules and regulations, please visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.