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Illinois big rivers

Illinois River Fishing in Illinois

The Illinois side of the Illinois River, pool by pool: 6 IDNR pages.

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Illinois big rivers

The Illinois River, quickly sorted

This hub collects the 6 IDNR pages that make up the Illinois River in Illinois. Where IDNR gives pool acres, they total 102,613.

The IDNR ramp layer maps 33 mapped ramps along it, and 23 gauges report stage.

6IDNR pool pages
33mapped ramps
17NOAA gauges
102,613pool acres (IDNR)

IDNR IFishIllinois river pool pages, IDNR boat ramp layer, NOAA NWPS and USGS gauge lists; read November 4, 2026.

All Illinois riversIllinois water levels
Pools

The Illinois River pool by pool

Pool or reachAcres (IDNR)Mapped rampsFirst IDNR ratingUSGS gauges nearbyCounties
Illinois River, Alton Pool19,56511Flathead Catfish (Excellent)3Morgan County and 2 other counties
Illinois River, Dresden Island Pool2,49600Grundy County
Illinois River, LaGrange Pool38,28910Channel Catfish (Excellent)2Peoria and Fulton counties
Illinois River, Marseilles Pool5,6201Smallmouth Bass (Very Good)3Grundy and LaSalle counties
Illinois River, Peoria Pool33,3649Bluegill (Good)1Marshall County
Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool3,2792Flathead Catfish (Excellent)1LaSalle County

Across the Illinois River pools, Flathead Catfish collect the most good-or-better IDNR ratings (5).

IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026. Pool acres as printed on each IDNR pool page.

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Access

Backing a trailer into the Illinois River

IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.

Illinois boat ramps
Levels

Pool and tailwater stages of the Illinois River

NWS gaugeReadingFlowFlood categoryTime (UTC)
Illinois River at Dresden Lock (tailwater)483.4 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
Illinois River at Morris5.11 ft4.91 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Ottawa458.73 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:30:00 UTC
Illinois River at Marseilles Lock (tailwater)459.23 ft2.6 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:30:00 UTC
Illinois River at Marseilles11.2 ft3.9 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater)441.3 ft4.25 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
Illinois River near La Salle11.36 ft5.16 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Seneca20.47 ft–no flooding2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Chillicothe440.38 ft–not defined2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
Illinois River at Peoria11.85 ft5.23 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Peoria Lock and Dam431.86 ft5.24 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 16:00:00 UTC
Illinois River at Kingston Mines3.52 ft6.47 kcfsnot defined2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Copperas Creek3.25 ft6.91 kcfsnot defined2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at Beardstown9.55 ft6.41 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC
Illinois River at LaGrange Lock and Dam7.66 ft9.02 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC
Illinois River at Meredosia2.85 ft10.8 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 18:30:00 UTC
Illinois River at Valley City2.34 ft7.18 kcfsno flooding2026-11-05 19:00:00 UTC

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).

Read these Illinois River stages as of 2026-11-05 18:00:00 UTC, not live.

USGS discharge along the Illinois River

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Illinois River At Meredosia, Il5,790 cfs, 2.76 ft gage heightAug 8 1:45 am Not updated since Aug 8, 1988.
Illinois River At Valley City, Il6,840 cfs, 2.24 ft gage heightNov 5 5:00 pm
Illinois River At Florence, Il15.27 ft gage heightNov 5 4:45 pm
Illinois River At Kingston Mines, Il5,020 cfs, 3.55 ft gage heightNov 5 4:45 pm

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 5, 2026 5:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.

USGS instantaneous values, provisional.

Illinois water levels
Limits

Fish allowed in the cooler from the Illinois River

Species groupDaily limitStatewide rule as printed
Alligator Gar1 per 24 hoursHarvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours.
Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfishno limitThere are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.
Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Other Sunfishno limitThere are no harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.
Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie)no limitThere are no daily harvest or size limits, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.
Lake Sturgeonno possessionProtected; No possession.
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass6 (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 Hybridmuskellunge 1, northern pike 3All 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
Paddlefish2Daily 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 Hybridsno limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longerThere 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 Salmon5 (combined)Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate.
Walleye, Sauger, or their Hybrid6 (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

The Illinois River in the site-specific list

Water as printedSpeciesRule as printed (code)
Illinois RiverLarge or Smallmouth Bass12 inch Minimum Length Limit
Illinois River – Pool 26Recreational Use RestrictionsWaterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)
Illinois River – Starved Rock PoolLarge or Smallmouth Bass18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Illinois River – Starved Rock PoolWhite, Black, or Hybrid Crappie10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 34, 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.

Illinois licenses and limits
Stocking

Hatchery fish in the Illinois River

YearSpecies as listedNumber, all pools
2026Sauger13,336,626
2026Smallmouth Bass150,584
2026Largemouth Bass33,938
2026Northern Pike4,170
2025Sauger22,002,172
2025Smallmouth Bass201,472
2025Black Crappie83,568
2025Northern Pike79,220
2025Lake Sturgeon7,348
2024Sauger20,514,344
2024Largemouth Bass2,176,990
2024Smallmouth Bass214,014
2024Northern Pike4,120
2023Sauger7,667,086

IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.

Nearby

Inside a cornfield drive of Illinois River

Bait counters on the drive to Illinois River

  • EastPort Marinamarina, East Peoria, 12 miles
  • spindler marinamarina, East Peoria, 13 miles
  • Bass Pro Shops East Peoriasporting goods store, East Peoria, 14 miles
  • Detweiller Marinamarina, Peoria, 14 miles
  • Wharf Harbor Sales Incmarina, Peoria, 14 miles
  • J & J Riverside Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Pekin, 15 miles

Sister streams of the Illinois River

Illinois River, cut along Illinois county lines

  • Morgan County
  • Scott County
  • Pike County
  • Grundy County
  • Peoria County
  • Fulton County
  • LaSalle County
  • Marshall County
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A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on the Illinois River

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Fish photos

Fish to recognise on sight at Illinois River

Alligator Gar, Illinois
Alligator Gar
Photo: Eden, Janine and Jim, CC BY 2.0
Blue Catfish, Illinois
Blue Catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
White Crappie, Illinois
White Crappie
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Paddlefish, Illinois
Paddlefish
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Answers

Straight replies on the Illinois River

Where do the Illinois River pools start and end?

Look for 6 pages: Alton Pool, Dresden Island Pool, LaGrange Pool, Marseilles Pool, Peoria Pool and Starved Rock Pool.

Where do boaters get onto the Illinois River?

The IDNR layer maps 33 ramps; Illinois River – Alton Bedford Landing Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Alton Pool is one.

What does the digest say about licenses on the Illinois River?

Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).

What fish does IDNR rate on the Illinois River?

Expect flathead catfish, channel catfish, white bass, sauger, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, blue catfish and lake sturgeon, among others.

What does the 2026 digest let me keep from the Illinois 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. The limits band adds 3 site-specific entries.

Which gauges read the Illinois River?

Dated readings from 17 NOAA gauges are tabled above.

Can I get bait on the way to the Illinois River?

Our list starts with EastPort Marina.

What is one pool to try on the Illinois River?

Illinois River, Alton Pool is listed first; each pool page carries its own ramps and IDNR outlook.

Choose a lock and dam on the Illinois River

Fees, stamps and border rules are on the license page.

Illinois licenses and limitsAll Illinois rivers