Fishing in Kankakee County, Illinois
County seat: Kankakee. Population 107,502.
- 6lake pages
- 8IDNR launches
- 2river pages
Pick for catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of Kankakee River: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fishing Kankakee County by the numbers
The 2020 Census tallied 107,502 residents in Kankakee County, whose courthouse stands in Kankakee. On the IDNR IFishIllinois map, loaner sites here carry the IDNR fishing map's Chicago/Northeast Illinois grouping.
Of the 6 paged lakes reaching the county, Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia) is biggest. IDNR counts 8 public launches for the county across its map and 2019 inventory. The 2019 IDNR list shows 1 fishing pier inside the county. Stocking trucks show up in 12 stocking rows of the 2021-2026 IDNR table for the county.
Census 2020 population; IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody pages and map; IDNR lands asset inventory (2019); IDNR stocking table; read November 4, 2026.
Where the Kankakee County ramps and piers sit
IDNR IFishIllinois map launch points, IDNR asset inventory piers and IFishIllinois page points; read November 4, 2026.
Lake pages filed under Kankakee County
| Lake | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (IDNR text) | Kind | Launches | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia) | 149 | pond | 1 | channel catfish, redear sunfish, bluegill | |
| Monster Lake (Mazonia) | 53 | lake | 1 | channel catfish, bluegill, flathead catfish | |
| Eagle Lake (Mazonia) | 34 | lake | 1 | bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass | |
| Long (Wilderness) Lake (Mazonia) | 27 | lake | 0 | ||
| Doc's Club Lake (Mazonia) | 22 | lake | 1 | ||
| Bird Park Quarry | 7 | lake | 0 | rainbow trout |
Acres as listed on the IDNR IFishIllinois page (printed only where the page text gives the same size); depth only where the IDNR text states a maximum depth. Launch counts from the IDNR map and 2019 inventory; acres left blank where the IDNR page text disagrees with its listing.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Lake pages around Kankakee County, tallied by fish
Bars show lake pages within 50 miles of Kankakee that list each fish; largemouth bass leads.
IDNR fishing outlook ratings, species named on IFishIllinois pages, the IDNR stocking table and state records, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Rivers winding across Kankakee County
- Kankakee RiverIFishIllinois page, 5 IDNR-mapped ramps, 4 USGS gauges
- Iroquois RiverIFishIllinois page, 1 IDNR-mapped ramp, 2 USGS gauges
River and creek levels in Kankakee County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee River At Momence, Il | 1,270 cfs, 1.78 ft gage height | Nov 11 8:45 pm |
| Iroquois River Near Chebanse, Il | 160 cfs, 2.64 ft gage height | Nov 11 8:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDNR IFishIllinois river and pool pages, USGS GNIS names, IDNR map launches and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 4, 2026.
River stage readings around Kankakee County
| Gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois River near Chebanse | 2.64 ft | 0.16 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 17:45:00 UTC |
| Kankakee River at Momence | 1.84 ft | 1.35 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 17:45:00 UTC |
| Kankakee River near Wilmington | 1.33 ft | 1.74 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC |
| Iroquois River at Iroquois | 5.61 ft | 0.14 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC |
One timed reading per gauge, copied at build time.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
Trailer ramps scattered over Kankakee County
- Mazonia – Eagle Lake Boat RampEagle Lake (Mazonia), IDNR note: Gravel ramp
- Mazonia – Monster Lake Boat RampMonster Lake (Mazonia), IDNR note: Gravel ramp
- Mazonia – Ponderosa Lake Boat RampPonderosa Lake (Mazonia), IDNR note: Gravel ramp
- Kankakee River Bird Park Canoe/Kayak LaunchKankakee River, launch
- Kankakee River Momence Boat RampKankakee River, launch
- Kankakee River Potawatomi Park Boat RampKankakee River, launch
- Momence Wetlands Boat Rampwater not named, concrete, gravel ramp
- St. Anne Community Pond Boat RampSt. Anne Community Pond, launch
2 launches of these launches name water that has no page here, so they appear only on this list.
Walk-in fishing in Kankakee County
- Kankakee River Fishing Pierfishing pier, IDNR site: Kankakee River
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026. IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.
Stocking in Kankakee County
| Year | Water | Species (as listed) | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bird Park Quarry | Rainbow Trout | 485 | Adult |
| 2026 | Bird Park Quarry | Rainbow Trout | 500 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 5,499 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 400,000 | Not Specified |
| 2025 | Bird Park Quarry | Rainbow Trout | 830 | Adult |
| 2025 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 3,323 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 378,000 | Not Specified |
| 2025 | Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia) | Channel Catfish | 900 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 4,910 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 3,308 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Monster Lake (Mazonia) | Walleye | 627,000 | Not Specified |
| 2022 | Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia) | Channel Catfish | 900 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026; rows reach the county through the water they name.
Digest limits as they apply in Kankakee County
Waters of Kankakee County follow the statewide rows below unless the digest lists them as a site-specific water. An Illinois resident pays $15 for the annual sport fishing license, a nonresident $31.50.
| Species | Daily limit | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | 1 per 24 hours | Harvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours. |
| Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Other Sunfish | no limit | There are no harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie) | no limit | There are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. |
| Lake Sturgeon | no possession | Protected; No possession. |
| Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass | 6 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio (including Golconda Marina), and Wabash Rivers, the d |
| Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and their Hybrid | muskellunge 1, northern pike 3 | All Muskellunge and Muskellunge hybrids (Tiger Muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. No more than 1 Muskellunge or Muskellunge hybrid (Tiger Muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified u |
| Paddlefish | 2 | Daily harvest limit is 2 Paddlefish. Please refer to Site Specific Regulations for the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa and the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri. |
| Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids | no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer | There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17" in total le |
| Trout and Salmon | 5 (combined) | Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate. |
| Walleye, Sauger, or their Hybrid | 6 (combined) | All Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid (Saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. Daily harvest limit is 6 Walleye, Sauger, or their hybrid, either |
Digest exceptions inside Kankakee County (11)
| Water | Species | Rule as printed (code numbers kept) |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Park Quarry | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Bird Park Quarry | Trout | Fall Closed Season (7), Spring Closed Season (8) |
| Bonfield Ponds | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Bonfield Ponds | Channel Catfish | 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Bonfield Ponds | Large or Smallmouth Bass | Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 15 inches; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 15 inches |
| Bourbonnais Park District Ponds | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Bourbonnais Park District Ponds | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Hieland Lakes | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Hieland Lakes | Bluegill or Redear Sunfish | 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Hieland Lakes | Channel Catfish | 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Hieland Lakes | Large or Smallmouth Bass | Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 15 inches; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 15 inches |
| Kankakee River | Smallmouth Bass | Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 18 inches; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 2 Fish less than 12 inches |
| Mazonia Lakes & Ponds | Recreational Use Restrictions | Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12) |
| Mazonia Lakes & Ponds | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Mazonia Lakes & Ponds | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Mazonia Lakes & Ponds | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Mazonia Lakes & Ponds | White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Monster Lake | All Fish | 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) |
| Monster Lake | Channel Catfish | 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Monster Lake | Large or Smallmouth Bass | 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR record weights from Kankakee County
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | hook and line | 26 lbs 15 oz | Strip Mine | Nov. 9, 1989 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR tackle loaner sites in Kankakee County
- Edward Chipman Public Library126 N. Locust Street, Momence, (815) 472-2581
- Momence Island Park79 Mill Street, Momence, (815) 472-2670
The IDNR tackle loaner program lends rods free of charge at these places.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, tackle loaner site layer (KML), read November 5, 2026.
Where Kankakee County anglers buy tackle
Kankakee County bait shops
- Elliott's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Kankakee
- Kankakee River Trading Postbait and tackle shop, Bourbonnais
- Dick's Sporting Goods Bourbonnaissporting goods store, Bourbonnais
Kankakee County fishing guides
- The Fishing Cornercharter, Manteno, (815) 468-6577
Yellow Pages, chain store and IDNR license vendor listings; guide and charter association pages (matched by the waters they list or their county), read November 4, 2026.
Down the county road from Kankakee County
Main streets of Kankakee County near water
- Kankakeepop. 24,052
- Bourbonnaispop. 18,164
- Bradleypop. 15,419
- Mantenopop. 9,210
- Momencepop. 3,117
- Limestonepop. 1,558
- Herscherpop. 1,521
- Grant Parkpop. 1,294
- St. Annepop. 1,161
- Chebansepop. 1,044
Counties around Kankakee County
- Will County22 miles north
- Iroquois County27 miles south
- Grundy County30 miles west
- Livingston County40 miles southwest
Spinning reels from Piscifun matched to Kankakee County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A photo field guide to Kankakee County fish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Questions on Kankakee County ponds, lakes and rivers
Where does a johnboat hit the water across Kankakee County?
8 launches on the IDNR layers; Mazonia – Eagle Lake Boat Ramp is one.
Which lake is largest in Kankakee County?
Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia), at 149 acres by the IDNR listing.
What species do lake pages around Kankakee County list?
Largemouth bass tops the count of lake pages within 50 miles, followed by bluegill, channel catfish and black crappie.
Is any crawler-and-minnow store open in Kankakee County?
Elliott's Bait & Tackle heads a list of 3.
Is there free fishing gear to borrow in Kankakee County?
IDNR lists 2 loaner sites here, starting with Edward Chipman Public Library in Momence.
Where are Kankakee County county offices?
The seat is Kankakee.
Which Illinois license does Kankakee County fishing call for?
An Illinois resident pays $15 for the annual sport fishing license, a nonresident $31.50.
Which counties border Kankakee County?
Will County, Iroquois County and Grundy County lie closest.
Does the digest list Kankakee County lakes separately?
The digest lists 11 site-specific entries for waters in or by this county, starting with Bird Park Quarry; the table above shows each.
Has IDNR released fish into Kankakee County water?
The IDNR table carries 12 rows; the newest lists 400,000 Walleye, Not Specified (2026) in Mazonia – Monster Lake.
Which IDNR records trace to Kankakee County?
Northern Pike, 26 lbs 15 oz, November 9, 1989 (hook and line), from Strip Mine.
Spend a Saturday on the lakes of Kankakee County
Each launch page opens with a directions link.