Illinois River, Marseilles Pool Fishing
A navigation pool of the Illinois River in Grundy and LaSalle counties.
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The Illinois River Marseilles Pool, quickly sorted
Anglers reach Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River, a navigation pool, from Grundy and LaSalle counties. IDNR lists 5,620 acres of water in this pool. Food and fuel are closest in Marseilles, near under a mile away.
1 boat ramp line its banks on the IDNR map. There are 3 USGS gauges near it. First in the IDNR outlook: smallmouth bass, very good.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
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- Location (IDNR)The Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River extends from mile 247 to the tailwater of the Dresden Island Lock and Dam at mile 271.5. LaSalle and Grundy counties border this reach.
- Description (IDNR)From its beginning where the Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers enter to Ottawa, the Dresden and Marseilles Dams, Sheehan Island and Covel Creek south of Ottawa and Ballard Island north of Marseilles are considered the best fishing spots. There are ramps available at Ottawa, Wm. G. Stratton State Park at Morris and Illini State Park near Marseilles. The latter also provides campgrounds with electrical hookups.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Species and ratings on the Illinois River Marseilles Pool
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | Very Good | The Marseilles Pool had the second highest catch rate of smallmouth bass over the last 10 years for that pool with a catch rate of 17 fish/hour electrofishing. Smallmouth bass ranged in size from 3-18 inches and up to… |
| Flathead Catfish | Very Good | Flathead catfish provide a chance to catch a big fish in the upper Illinois River. Hoop net surveys conducted in 2023 resulted in the collection of 69 flathead catfish ranging from 16 – 42 inches weighing up to 39… |
| Channel Catfish | Very Good | Channel catfish are abundant in the upper Illinois River. Illinois River hoop netting is on a 4 year rotation by pool. Hoop net surveys conducted in the Starved Rock and Marseilles pools in 2023 yielded a total catch of… |
An IDNR outlook line, stocking row or record backs each fish named for Marseilles Pool of the Illinois 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 Illinois River Marseilles Pool
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River At Morris, Il | 5,330 cfs, 5.22 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:45 am |
| Illinois River At Seneca, Il | 20.55 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:45 am |
| Illinois River At Marseilles, Il | 3,940 cfs, 11.21 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 1:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS sites nearest the pool: Illinois River at Morris, IL, Illinois River at Seneca, IL and Illinois River at Marseilles, IL.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
Stage readings along the Illinois River are listed on its main page.
Backing a trailer into the Illinois River Marseilles Pool
- Illinois River – Marseilles Seneca Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Marseilles Poollaunch, LaSalle County
Neighbouring ramps around Illinois River Marseilles Pool
- Illinois River – Marseilles Illini State Park Boat Ramp on LaSalle Cooling LakeLaSalle Cooling Lake, 3 miles
- LaSalle Cooling Lake Boat RampLaSalle Cooling Lake, 4 miles
Enter Marseilles Pool of the Illinois 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 Illinois River Marseilles Pool
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northern Pike | 1,053 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Sauger | 1,293,000 | Not Specified |
| 2026 | Sauger | 55,575 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Smallmouth Bass | 25,068 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Northern Pike | 1,245 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Sauger | 952,000 | Not Specified |
| 2025 | Sauger | 29,101 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Smallmouth Bass | 29,504 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Smallmouth Bass | 3,165 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Northern Pike | 1,039 | 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 Illinois River Marseilles Pool
| 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 Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River, the statewide digest rows hold unless a site-specific line below changes them.
The Illinois River Marseilles Pool in the site-specific list
- Bowfishing is not permitted in this reach of the river.
- Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: 12" minimum length limit; 6 fish daily limit with no more than three Smallmouth Bass
- Walleye, Sauger and Hybrids: 14" minimum length limit; 6 fish daily limit
- White, Black and Hybrid Crappie: 10 fish daily limit
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.
Illinois River Marseilles Pool and the pools around it
Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool is the nearest neighbour, roughly 11 miles off.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois River, Marseilles Pool | 3 | 1 | Smallmouth Bass | |
| Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool | 11 miles west | 1 | 2 | Flathead Catfish |
| Illinois River, Dresden Island Pool | 24 miles east | 0 | 0 | |
| Illinois River, Peoria Pool | 64 miles southwest | 1 | 9 | Bluegill |
| Illinois River, LaGrange Pool | 132 miles southwest | 2 | 10 | Channel Catfish |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
Inside a cornfield drive of Illinois River Marseilles Pool
Nearby impoundments to try after Illinois River Marseilles Pool
- LaSalle Cooling Lake4 miles
- Gebhard Woods Ponds 1-315 miles
- Heidecke Lake20 miles
- Bakers Lake21 miles
Bait counters on the drive to Illinois River Marseilles Pool
- Spring Brook Marinamarina, Seneca, 5 miles
- Heritage Harbor Marinamarina, Ottawa, 6 miles
- Anchor in Marinamarina, Seneca, 6 miles
- B & B Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Ottawa, 8 miles
- Starved Rock Marinamarina, Ottawa, 12 miles
Places to sleep and eat near Illinois River Marseilles Pool
- Marseilles2 miles
- Seneca5 miles
- Ottawa8 miles
- Streator13 miles
Illinois River Marseilles Pool, cut along Illinois county lines
A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River
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Telling the Illinois River, Marseilles Pool 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
Illinois River Marseilles Pool, sorted out question by question
Which Illinois counties sit along Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River?
The Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River extends from mile 247 to the tailwater of the Dresden Island Lock and Dam at mile 271.5. LaSalle and Grundy counties border this reach. Start in Grundy and LaSalle counties.
Which USGS station covers Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River?
The flow band carries Illinois River at Morris, IL and Illinois River at Seneca, IL, live from USGS.
Where do boaters get onto Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River?
Use Illinois River – Marseilles Seneca Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Marseilles Pool, one of 1 boat ramp.
How many bass can I keep on Marseilles Pool of 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. Plus the site rules shown above.
Is an Illinois license needed on Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
What bites on Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River?
First in the IDNR outlook: smallmouth bass, very good; others named are flathead catfish, channel catfish, northern pike and sauger.
Can I get bait on the way to Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River?
Our list starts with Spring Brook Marina, about 5 miles away,.
Are the banks of Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River public?
Much Illinois river frontage is private; use public ramps, parks and state sites, or ask the owner.
Which river is Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River part of?
This pool belongs to the Illinois River, which IDNR splits into 6 pages.
Wait for a good stage on Marseilles Pool of the Illinois River
IDNR fees and the statewide table are on one page.