Illinois regulations
Channel Catfish Regulations in Illinois 2026
Illinois Channel Catfish regulations: 356 current rules. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (356)
Illinois statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Gear
- Angling Only
No Harvest Or Size Limits Except In Those Waters Listed Under Site Specific Regulations. May be taken by pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, spear or gig.
Burning Star State Fish And Wildlife Area, All Lakes And Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Honker’s Pond
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Little Grassy Lake
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Restricted Use Area Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Visitor’s Pond
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Crawford County State Fish & Wildlife Area Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge-All Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Dupage County Forest Preserve District Lakes & Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
Duquoin State Fair Grounds – All Lakes And Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Fulton County Camping And Recreation Area Waters
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish And Wildlife Area – All Lakes And Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish And Wildlife Area – Drake Lake
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish And Wildlife Area – Gridley Road Lake
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Kane County Forest Preserve District Lakes And Ponds
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Lake Shelbyville
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
Channel Catfish 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Ohio River (Between Il & Ky)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 13"
for Fish greater than or equal to 28 inches
Shawnee National Forest – Bay Creek Lake #5 And #8
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Shawnee National Forest – Lakes And Ponds Less Than 10 Acres
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Siloam Springs State Park – Buckhorn Unit Waters
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Silver Springs State Fish And Wildlife Area - Big Lake And Area Ponds
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Snakeden Hollow State Fish And Wildlife Area – McMaster Lake & Other Site Waters
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Sparta World Shooting And Recreational Complex Lakes
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Spring State Lake
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
Channel Catfish 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Wabash River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 13"
for Fish greater than or equal to 28 inches
William W. Powers State Recreation Area
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
Channel Catfish 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Other Illinois fish regulations
Other regulated species in Illinois with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)60 rules
- Walleye23 rules
- Yellow Perch23 rules
- Smallmouth Bass21 rules
- Largemouth Bass19 rules
- Northern Pike9 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)5 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)3 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)2 rules
Also known as
Channel Catfish is also called Catfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Illinois.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season in Illinois?
Channel Catfish season in Illinois is set by DNR. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Illinois?
Minimum size for Channel Catfish in Illinois is 15 inches in Des Plaines River Basin, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Illinois?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Illinois is 6 fish/day in Aledo City Lake, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/illinois/fishing/fishing-limits-by-location-s-z
- https://www.eregulations.com/illinois/fishing/fishing-limits-by-location-a-c
- https://www.eregulations.com/illinois/fishing/fishing-limits-by-location-l-o
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.