Illinois Fishing License and Regulations

IDNR license fees (ifishillinois.org), read November 4, 2026.

• Sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached (Alabama rigs not allowed) while fishing, except that legal size cast nets (in accordance with Section 810.50(a)(2)), shad scoops, and minnow seines may be used to obtain shad, minnows and crayfish to use as bait, provided that they are not sold, and except that bullfrogs may be taken by hand, gig, pitchfork, spear, landing net and hook and line during bullfrog season.code 1
• Sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, minnow trap, cast net or shad scoop for bait collecting in the following water areas: Fox Chain O' Lakes (Lake/McHenry Counties) – including the Fox River south of the Wisconsin-Illinois boundary to the Algonquin Dam and the Nippersink Creek upstream to the Wilmot Road Bridge. Charleston Lower Channel Lake tailwaters from that portion of the Embarras River from the Charleston Lower Channel Lake Dam downstream to the Route 130 Bridge. Kinkaid Lake (Jackson County) – includcode 2
• All jugs set in a body of water shall be under the immediate supervision of the fisherman. Immediate supervision shall be defined as the fisherman being on the water where the jugs are set and readily available to identify jugs to law enforcement officers.code 3
• When using live bait, all live bait in excess of 8" in total length shall be rigged with a quick set rig. The hook shall be immediately set upon the strike. A quick set rig is defined as follows: a live bait rig with up to 2 treble hooks attached anywhere on the live bait; single hooks are prohibited. This subsection does not apply to trotlines, jug lines, etc., if allowed on the lake.code 4
• Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin and suckers by pitchfork, gigs, bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices.code 5
• The daily harvest limit for yellow perch shall not exceed 15 fish in the combined waters of Lake Michigan, Calumet River, and Chicago River including its North Branch, South Branch and the North Shore Channel.code 6
• It shall be illegal to possess trout during the period of October 1 to 5 a.m. on the third Saturday in October (both dates inclusive) that were caught during that period.code 7
• It shall be illegal to possess trout during the period of March 15 to 5 a.m. on the 1st Saturday in April (both dates inclusive) that were caught during that period. 12 12code 8
• Catch and Release Fishing Only means that fish (all or listed species) caught must be immediately released alive and in good condition back into the water from which they came.code 9
• The 48 inch total length limit on pure muskellunge applies to that body of water listed as well as any tailwaters as defined below: Evergreen Lake (McLean County) – including the portion of Six Mile Creek below the Evergreen Lake Dam downstream to its confluence with the Mackinaw River.code 10
• It shall be unlawful to enter upon a designated duck hunting area between sunset of the Sunday immediately preceding opening day of regular duck season through the day before regular duck season and Canada goose season as posted at the site, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck season except in areas posted as open to fishing. It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from two weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Cancode 11
• It shall be unlawful to trespass upon a designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open to fishing. It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.code 12
• It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl hunting areas during the 10 days prior to the start of the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck season except in areas posted as open to fishing. It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 10 days prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.code 13

IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.