Waterbody · Illinois · Missouri
Lake Springfield Fishing Regulations 2026
Lake Springfield fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are bass, crappie, catfish. 555 current rules across 13 species from 2 state agencies (Illinois, Missouri).
Illinois waters
418 rules from DNR, 11 species.
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.
Smallmouth Bass
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"
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.
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
Or Hybrid Crappie White Black
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.
Fish (All Species)
Lake Springfield
- Gear
- Angling Only
2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)
Large Or Smallmouth Bass
Black Crappie
Illinois statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No Harvest Or Size Limits Except In Those Waters Listed Under Site Specific Regulations.
White Crappie
Illinois statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No Harvest Or Size Limits Except In Those Waters Listed Under Site Specific Regulations.
Missouri waters
137 rules from Conservation, 10 species.
Smallmouth Bass
All Ozark StreamsIn season
- Season opens
- May 23
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Possession
- 12 fish
- Min size
- 12"
Big Piney River - Slabtown Access To Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Big Piney River From Slabtown Access To The Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Big River - Council Bluff Lake Dam To Meramec River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Big River From The Council Bluff Lake Dam To The Meramec River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Big River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Blue Springs Creek
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Bourbeuse River Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Courtois Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Dry Fork Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Eleven Point River - Thomasville Access To Arkansas Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Eleven Point River From Thomasville Access To The Arkansas Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Elk River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Gasconade River From Highway Y In Pulaski County To Highway D In Phelps County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Huzzah Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Jacks Fork River From Highway 17 To The Current River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
James River - Hooten Town Bridge To Highway 413/265 Bridge
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
James River From Hooten Town Bridge (The Loop Road At Route O) To The Highway 413/Highway 265 Bridge At Galena
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Joachim Creek From Jefferson County Highway V Bridge To Highway A Bridge
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Meramec River - Highway 8 To Bird's Nest Railroad
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Meramec River From Highway 8 Bridge To The Railroad Crossing At Bird’s Nest
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Meramec River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Mineral Fork From Highway F In Washington County To The Big River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Daily and possession limit of 12 black bass, which may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species, may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Mineral Fork Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Osage Fork Of The Gasconade River - Skyline Drive To Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Osage Fork Of The Gasconade River From Skyline Drive Bridge Near Orla In Laclede County To The Gasconade River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Tenmile Creek From Highway B In Carter County To Cane Creek
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
The daily limit of 6 black bass may include only 1 smallmouth bass.
Crappie
Smithville Lake
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
Daily limit of 30 fish may include no more than 15 fish more than 9" in total length.
Wappapello Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
Daily limit of 30 fish may include no more than 15 fish more than 9" in total length.
Largemouth Bass
All Ozark StreamsIn season
- Season opens
- May 23
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Possession
- 12 fish
- Min size
- 12"
Big River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Blue Springs Creek
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Bourbeuse River Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Courtois Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Dry Fork Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Huzzah Creek Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Meramec River Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Mineral Fork Mainstem And Its Tributaries, Except As Noted Below
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
may include no more than 6 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, combined total of both species.
Blue Catfish
Harry S. Truman Reservoir On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Slot min
- 26"
- Slot max
- 34"
the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34"
Lake Of The Ozarks On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Possession
- 10 fish
- Slot min
- 26"
- Slot max
- 34"
the daily limit may not contain more than 2 blue catfish more than 34"
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 20 fish
- Possession
- 20 fish
combined total of these species.
Striped Bass
Bull Shoals On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
only 3 striped bass may be included in the aggregate
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 30 fish
combined total of these species.
Norfork Lake On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
only 3 striped bass may be included in the aggregate
Flathead Catfish
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 10 fish
- Possession
- 10 fish
Channel Catfish
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26
- Daily bag
- 20 fish
- Possession
- 20 fish
combined total of these species.
Catfish
Bull Shoals Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
combined total of blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Norfork Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
combined total of blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Table Rock Lake Lakewide
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
combined total of blue, channel, and flathead catfish
Black Crappie
White Crappie
FAQ
Which states regulate fishing on Lake Springfield?
Lake Springfield spans 2 states (Illinois, Missouri). Each state's wildlife agency sets rules for its own waters; DNR / Conservation.
What species can I target on Lake Springfield?
Lake Springfield is best known for bass, crappie, catfish. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize DNR / Conservation'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.