Waterbody · Illinois
Illinois River Fishing Regulations 2026
Illinois River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are catfish, bass, walleye. 440 current rules across 10 species from DNR.
Rules (440)
DNR regulates 440 rules across 10 species at this water.
Channel Catfish
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
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.
Walleye
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Crab Orchard Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Mississippi River
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Mississippi River (Between Il & Ia)
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Rock River
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Salt Creek Downstream To The Route 10 Bridge
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Illinois statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
either singly or in the aggregate with Sauger or their Hybrid (Saugeye), Except In Those Waters Listed Under Site Specific Regulations. All Walleye, Sauger, Or Their Hybrid (Saugeye) Taken Must Be 14˝ In Total Length Or Longer, Except In The Mississippi River, Wabash River, Or As Specified Under Site Specific Regulations.
Smallmouth Bass
Rivers And Streams And Their Tributaries Statewide, Except For The Mississippi, Ohio (Including The Golconda Marina), Wabash And Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel And Navigable Portions Of The Grand Calumet River And Little Calumet RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All Smallmouth Bass Must Be Immediately Released Between April 1 And June 15.
Apple RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)
Calumet RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Jun 15
All Smallmouth Bass Must Be Immediately Released Between April 1 And June 15
Fox Chain O’lakesCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All Fish must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15
Fox RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Max size
- 12"
All Smallmouth Bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15 no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and 2 Fish less than 12 inches
In Rivers And Streams And Their Tributaries Statewide
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
Contain No More Than 3 Smallmouth Bass. In Rivers And Streams And Their Tributaries Statewide, Except For The Mississippi, Ohio (Including The Golconda Marina), Wabash And Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel
Kane County Forest Preserve District Lakes And PondsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)
Kankakee River
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 18"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 18 inches
Kishwaukee River And South Branch Of Kishwaukee River And Tributaries
- Min size
- 14"
Illinois statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
No Statewide Size Limit. In Rivers And Streams And Their Tributaries Statewide, Except For The Mississippi, Ohio (Including The Golconda Marina), Wabash And Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel And Navigable Portions Of The Grand Calumet River And Little Calumet River, all Smallmouth Bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15. In Rivers And Streams And Their Tributaries Statewide, Except For The Mississippi, Ohio (Including Golconda Marina), And Wabash Rivers.
Largemouth Bass
Kane County Forest Preserve District Lakes And Ponds
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 3 Fish less than 14 inches Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 14 inches and less than 18 inches
Mason Recreational Use Restrictions Lake
- Min size
- 12"
Largemouth Bass 12 inch Minimum Length Limit
Illinois statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
No Statewide Size Limit. either singly or in the aggregate with Smallmouth Bass and Spotted Bass, except as specified under site specific regulations
Flathead Catfish
Fox Chain O’lakes
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Max size
- 28"
no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 28 inches and 2 Fish less than 28 inches
Fox River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Max size
- 28"
no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 28 inches and 2 Fish less than 28 inches
Refuge Area (Ellis Bay) Immediately Upstream Of Melvin Price Lock And Dam 26 Overflow Dike
- Daily bag
- 10 fish
Flathead Catfish 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Vermont Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
no more than 1 Fish >28 inches and 2 Fish <28 inches
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.
Striped Bass
Kaskaskia River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
- Min size
- 32"
Striped Bass 32 inch Minimum Length Limit; 2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit Striped Bass 32 inch Minimum Length Limit
Mississippi River Between Illinois And Iowa
- Daily bag
- 25 fish
25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit On Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass And Their Hybrids, Either Singly Or In The Aggregate
Large Or Smallmouth Bass
Blue Catfish
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.
All Species
Illinois River – Pool 26Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)
Or Hybrid Crappie White Black
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Illinois River?
DNR regulates fishing on Illinois River.
What species can I target on Illinois River?
Illinois River is best known for catfish, bass, walleye. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize DNR's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.