Forest Preserve’s Tackle Box Bait Shop Up and Running at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm

Eric Lisitza, of Bolingbrook, and nephew Wyatt Partynski stop by the Tackle Box bait shop for some fishing supplies. –Photo by Forest Preserve staff, Cindy Cain.

After a year hiatus, the Tackle Box bait shop is up and running at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook.

When the Forest Preserve District of Will County acquired Hidden Oaks Preserve from the Bolingbrook Park District in February 2022, the old bait shop was torn down and a new one was constructed in its place. The new bait shop had a soft opening in May for a fishing derby and has been adding items ever since, said Angie Trobaugh, the Forest Preserve’s facility supervisor for Hidden Lakes and the adjacent Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Now that the credit card machine is working, the bait shop is fully functional.

“People enjoy the convenience of obtaining their fishing licenses at the bait shop, as well as information on the Forest Preserve District,” she added. “And many just come up to the window to ask questions or shoot the breeze.”

Tackle Box bait shop hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, plus 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday through August. In September and October, bait shop hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The bait shop has running water and a bathroom with a flush toilet that is open during bait shop hours.

Bait for sale includes large minnows, medium shiner minnows, a variety of worms, catfish magic bait, trout paste, and catfish stink bait. Fishing tackle also is for sale, ranging from fishing baskets and buckets to nets and bobbers. Free fishing poles with closed face, spincast reels are available for use for the day, thanks to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources program.

Food items for sale include hot dogs, cheeseburgers, deli sandwiches, soda, water, chips, candy, crackers, Gatorade, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and ice cream. Ice cream and Gatorade are the most popular items so far, said bait shop clerk David Piotrowski, who worked for the bait shop when it was owned by the park district, too. And the number one question, as always, is, “What’s biting?” he said.

Piotrowski, who started fishing when he was eight, usually knows. “Sometimes I’ll suggest certain spots and, if they catch one, they come back and almost want to kiss me,” he joked.

On a recent sunny July day, Tackle Box customers had only positive reviews. Christy Rustemeyer and Angela Karellas, of Naperville, stopped by for water on their walk from Whalon Lake to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm. “I love it’s environmentally friendly,” Karellas said of the water, which is sold in recyclable paper cartons.

Kimberly Hamblet, of Bolingbrook, visited the shop to get a fishing license. “It’s beautiful,” she said of the new bait shop. “I love the way it looks. It’s really nice, and I like the bathroom. It’s a major improvement and is more inviting.”

Trobaugh said the Tackle Box is a “bustling convergence” for all kinds of activities since it is near Whalon Lake preserve, the DuPage River Trail, and the DuPage River.

“We get bikers, hikers, runners, anglers, paddlers, and families out to picnic,” she said. “The Tackle Box is a one-stop shop for all of them. Whether you need an ice cream treat, general information, a map, minnows, or a sandwich, our dedicated staff will take care of you. People are happy to see David staffing and running the bait shop again. The seasonals we hired are dedicated and passionate. We really have a great team out there, and I only expect greater things.”

Hidden Lakes Trout Farm is part of Hidden Oaks Preserve, which is at 419 Trout Farm Road, north of Boughton Road. For more information on the Forest Preserve District of Will County, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.