Embarras River Fishing
An Illinois river through Douglas County and 3 other counties.
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The Embarras River, quickly sorted
The Embarras River flows through Douglas County and 3 other counties. Food and fuel are closest in Greenup, near under a mile away.
6 boat ramps line its banks on the IDNR map. There are 4 USGS gauges near it.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
IDNR notes on the Embarras River
- Location (IDNR)The Embarras River, a tributary of the Wabash River, is located in east-central Illinois. It is 195 miles in length and has a drainage area of approximately 2,440 square miles. Its major tributaries include Muddy Creek and Big Creek. Starting from the city of Champaign, the Embarras River flows south through …
- Description (IDNR)The upper reaches of the Embarras include: the detention ponds near the intersection of Windsor Road with U.S. Route 45 in southeastern Champaign; the southern portion of the University of Illinois campus, including the small creek near the Vet Med Building; and Meadowbrook Park in south Urbana. The Embarras flows generally southward through Douglas, Coles, Cumberland and Jasper Counties. In Jasper County it …
- More from IDNRThe middle section of the Embarras is one of Illinois' outstanding rivers because of its high species count and its diversity of habitats, including sandbars, gravel bars, raceways, riffles, and silt-bottomed pools.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Species and ratings on the Embarras River
An IDNR outlook line, stocking row or record backs each fish named for the Embarras River.
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026. IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Gauge height and discharge along the Embarras River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Embarras River Near Camargo, Il | 3.73 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:15 pm |
| Embarras River At Ste. Marie, Il | 37 cfs, 0.64 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:45 pm |
| North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong, Il | 2 cfs, 2.25 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:00 pm |
| Embarras River At Lawrenceville, Il | 50 cfs, 16.50 ft gage height | Nov 11 10:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 11:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Stations in the panel: Embarras River Near Camargo, IL, Embarras River at Ste. Marie, IL, North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong, IL and Embarras River at Lawrenceville, IL.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
Backing a trailer into the Embarras River
- Embarras River Camargo Taylor Haines Park Dirt Boat Ramplaunch, Douglas County
- Embarras River Lake Charleston Dam Tailwater Boat Ramplaunch, Coles County
- Embarras River Beaumont Public Boat Ramplaunch, Cumberland County
- Embarras River Greenup Boat Ramplaunch, Cumberland County
- Embarras River Kayak/Canoe Launch at Newtonlaunch, Jasper County
- Embarras River Lawrenceville Public Boat Ramplaunch, Lawrence County
Enter the Embarras River from public sites or with permission.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Hatchery fish in the Embarras River
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northern Pike | 838 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Fish allowed in the cooler from the Embarras River
| Species group | Daily limit | Statewide 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 |
On the Embarras River, the statewide digest rows hold unless a site-specific line below changes them.
The Embarras River in the site-specific list
- Statewide fishing regulations are enforced for the Embarras River, in addition to the site-specific regulations listed below.
- Site-Specific Fishing R
- egulations (Embarras River Bottoms State Natural Area):
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; bow fishing is allowed
- Illinois Natural History Survey
- Prairie Research Institute
- Illinois
Site-specific regulations on the IFishIllinois page, as printed, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 IDNR record rows naming the Embarras River
| Species | Weight | Division | Date | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldeye | 2 lbs 1 oz | hook and line | July 26, 1998 | Cumberland |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Lining the Embarras River up against nearby streams
North Fork Embarras River is the nearest neighbour, roughly 30 miles off.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embarras River | 4 | 6 | ||
| North Fork Embarras River | 30 miles south | 1 | 0 | |
| West Okaw River | 32 miles northwest | 1 | 0 | |
| Middle Fork Vermilion River | 58 miles northeast | 1 | 1 | |
| Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) | 59 miles northeast | 3 | 0 | |
| North Fork Vermilion River (Vermilion County) | 61 miles northeast | 1 | 0 |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
Inside a cornfield drive of Embarras River
Nearby impoundments to try after Embarras River
- Ridge Lake (FRSP)5 miles
- Toledo Reservoir6 miles
- Casey Park Pond9 miles
- Charleston Lower Channel Lake9 miles
Bait counters on the drive to Embarras River
- Lake Mattoon Marinamarina, Neoga, 17 miles
- Buckskin Legacy Trading Postsporting goods store, Robinson
- Rauch's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Newton
Places to sleep and eat near Embarras River
- Greenup6 miles
- Toledo6 miles
- Casey9 miles
- Charleston11 miles
Sister streams of the Embarras River
- North Fork Embarras River30 miles
- West Okaw River32 miles
- Middle Fork Vermilion River58 miles
- Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)59 miles
- North Fork Vermilion River (Vermilion County)61 miles
Embarras River, cut along Illinois county lines
- Douglas County
- Jasper County
- Crawford County
- Lawrence County
A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on the Embarras River
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Telling the Embarras River fish apart by photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Straight replies on the Embarras River
Which Illinois counties sit along the Embarras River?
The Embarras River, a tributary of the Wabash River, is located in east-central Illinois. It is 195 miles in length and has a drainage area of approximately 2,440 square miles. Its major tributaries i Start in Douglas, Jasper, Crawford and Lawrence counties.
Which USGS station covers the Embarras River?
The flow band carries Embarras River Near Camargo, IL and Embarras River at Ste. Marie, IL, live from USGS.
Where do boaters get onto the Embarras River?
Use Embarras River Beaumont Public Boat Ramp, one of 6 boat ramps.
How many bass can I keep on the Embarras River?
Statewide digest row for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass: Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. The same row adds a separate rule for rivers and streams, quoted in the limits band. Plus the site rules shown above.
Is an Illinois license needed on the Embarras River?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
What bites on the Embarras River?
The IDNR list starts with northern pike and goldeye.
Can I get bait on the way to the Embarras River?
Our list starts with Lake Mattoon Marina, about 17 miles away,.
Are the banks of the Embarras River public?
Much Illinois river frontage is private; use public ramps, parks and state sites, or ask the owner.
Is the Embarras River in the IDNR record list?
Goldeye at 2 lbs 1 oz (hook and line division, July 26, 1998) is the heaviest entry IDNR lists for the Embarras River; IDNR prints no angler names.
Wait for a good stage on the Embarras River
IDNR fees and the statewide table are on one page.