Focus Your Illinois State Fair Visit on New Fish Exhibits

The Fisheries tent is THE destination for many coming to the Illinois State Fair. Located in a natural setting consisting of trees, prairie patches and ponds, the northwest corner of the fairgrounds is known as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Conservation World and has been a popular draw for fairgoers for decades. The 2024 Illinois State Fair runs from August 8 to 18. Conservation World will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For those with sensory sensitivity, IDNR will be opening Conservation World from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. both Tuesday, Aug. 13 and Saturday, Aug. 17. Care and support with sensory-minded interactions is the goal during this time.

Old and new items continue to be a favorite of fairgoers. The 28-foot-long tank in the middle of the Division of Fisheries tent is the centerpiece, and a popular draw, with some of the largest fishes from Illinois being on display. Smaller tanks highlight other species of interest, including a variety of smaller fish native to Illinois— in prior years the American eel was on exhibit, which surprised fairgoers not knowing it is a species native to the Prairie State—and native turtles, such as painted, red-eared and softshell turtles. You can also learn about one of the largest Illinois fishes, which also happens to be an ancient species, the alligator gar.

New for 2024 is a display on another ancient fish, the sea lamprey, a 14- to 19-inch-long parasitic fish with a mouth full of sharp teeth it uses to attach to its host fish to feed. Sea lampreys likely invaded the Great Lakes (all but Ontario) after the Welland Canal was built to navigate around Niagara Falls. The Welland Canal was opened in 1821, but it is likely that the 1919 improvements resulted in the invasion as the first detection of sea lampreys in Lake Erie was in 1921. Over the next 25 years the sea lamprey was found in the other four Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has been instrumental in preparing a display of a unique, parasitic fish species that has done much harm to Great Lakes sportfish.

Also new to the tent this year are a series of banners hanging from the “rafters” of the tent. Each banner highlights record catches of sportfish in Illinois from recreational fishers, as well as the North American records. Take a close look at the banners as you may just find that a North American record or two has been taken by an angler in our great state.

Biologists will be present in the Fisheries tent to answer your pond and lake management questions, and of course they love hearing Illinois fishing stories!

A new partnership at the fair in 2024 is having members of the Fishing Has No Boundaries® (FHNB) organization in the tent. Two chapters of this national organization exist in Illinois, one in Springfield and another in Antioch. Fishing Has No Boundaries® shares a mission with the IDNR Division of Fisheries: to provide recreational fishing opportunities for all anglers with disabilities, regardless of their age, race, gender or disability. IDNR staff and FHNB volunteers will be assisting fairgoers needing assistance to enjoy an angling experience from an accessible dock near the Fisheries tent (see box). Interested participants needing assistance should sign up in the Fisheries tent. FHNB will have information available on how anyone can join or assist in this mission, staff will be present both weekends to answer questions.

In addition to the Fisheries tent, other IDNR and conservation minded activities and displays will allow a full day of activities for fairgoers. Most activities in Conservation World are free and family friendly. Make plans to attend the Illinois State Fair and block out a chunk of time to visit Conservation World, where you can take a gander at new and time-honored exhibits and learn about conservation and the nature of Illinois.

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Kevin Irons is the Assistant Chief in the Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.