Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool Fishing
A navigation pool of the Illinois River in LaSalle County.
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First Illinois notes on the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River is a navigation pool touching LaSalle County. The IDNR page gives the pool 3,279 acres. It is under a mile to North Utica.
IDNR plots 2 boat ramps here. Stage comes from 1 USGS gauge. IDNR rates flathead catfish here as excellent.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
For the flathead catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 What IDNR says about the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- Location (IDNR)The Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River extends from the Starved Rock Lock and Dam near Utica at mile 231 to the tailwater of the Marseilles Lock and Dam at mile 247.
- Description (IDNR)The Marseilles and Starved Rock pools have a bedrock bottom, but in the pools below Starved Rock Lock and Dam the bottom is mud, sand or gravel. The Starved Rock pool is characterized by ledges of St. Peter's sandstone, but the rest of the river has low, muddy banks.
- More from IDNROne of the best fishing stretches of the river runs from Starved Rock at Utica to Henry. Starved Rock State Park is a historic landmark and provides ramps and adequate parking area. Camping also is available, and many anglers utilize the sea walls and other banks in the area and catch a variety of fish.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
How IDNR rates the fishing on the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
| Species | IDNR rating | IDNR survey note |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead Catfish | Excellent | 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… |
| Largemouth Bass | Good | Largemouth bass catch rates were above average in the Starved Rock Pool. Sixty-four largemouth bass/hour ranging from 3-15 inches were collected in the 2025 Starved Rock Pool survey, which was the highest catch rate of… |
| Channel Catfish | Excellent | 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… |
| Sauger | Very Good | Some of the best sauger and walleye fishing is downstream of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam, but they may also be caught in deep waters of the upper pools during the day or in the shallows at night. Few sauger or walleye… |
| Smallmouth Bass | Good | Smallmouth Bass catch rates were average in the Starved Rock Pool in 2025. Fifteen Smallmouth Bass/hour ranging from 3 – 11 inches were collected in the 2025 Starved Rock Pool survey. The IDNR – Division of Fisheries… |
IDNR sources tie these species to Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River; it is not a catch survey.
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.
What the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool is running right now
USGS has no current reading for these gauges.
Closest USGS stations to this reach: Illinois River at Starved Rock, IL.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
We keep the Illinois River NOAA readings on the main page rather than guess which pool each gauge reads.
Launching onto the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- Illinois River – Starved Rock Allen Park Boat Ramp, Ottawa on Illinois River, Starved Rock Poollaunch, LaSalle County
- Illinois River – Starved Rock Starved Rock State Park Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Starved Rock Poollaunch, LaSalle County
Launches one bay over from Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- Illinois River – Marseilles Illini State Park Boat Ramp on LaSalle Cooling LakeLaSalle Cooling Lake, 12 miles
Much Illinois stream frontage is private; fish Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River from public ramps, parks and state sites, or with the owner's permission.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
What IDNR stocked along the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
| Year | Species as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sauger | 300,000 | Not Specified |
| 2026 | Sauger | 78,213 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2026 | Smallmouth Bass | 25,156 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Black Crappie | 20,892 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Sauger | 1,835,000 | Not Specified |
| 2025 | Sauger | 47,668 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2025 | Smallmouth Bass | 36,526 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Sauger | 2,602,000 | Not Specified |
| 2024 | Sauger | 141,402 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2024 | Smallmouth Bass | 26,591 | 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.
Illinois limits that apply on the Illinois River Starved Rock 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 |
Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River follows the statewide table plus any site entry.
Digest rules along the Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- Bowfishing is
- not
- permitted in this reach.
- Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: 18" minimum length limit; 1 fish daily limit
- Walleye, Sauger and Hybrids: 14" minimum length limit; 6 fish daily limit
- Black, White and Hybrid Crabbie: 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.
Lock and dam neighbours of Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
Next over: Illinois River, Marseilles Pool, around 11 miles away.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool | 1 | 2 | Flathead Catfish | |
| Illinois River, Marseilles Pool | 11 miles east | 3 | 1 | Smallmouth Bass |
| Illinois River, Dresden Island Pool | 34 miles east | 0 | 0 | |
| Illinois River, Peoria Pool | 57 miles southwest | 1 | 9 | Bluegill |
| Illinois River, LaGrange Pool | 125 miles southwest | 2 | 10 | Channel Catfish |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
A few miles of blacktop from Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
Other water a county or two from Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- Bakers Lake10 miles
- LaSalle Cooling Lake16 miles
- Lake Mendota20 miles
- Lake Kakusha21 miles
Where to buy crawlers and minnows near Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- Starved Rock Marinamarina, Ottawa, 1 mile
- Cajun Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Utica, 5 miles
- B & B Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Ottawa, 5 miles
- Apple Bee's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Utica, 6 miles
- Heritage Harbor Marinamarina, Ottawa, 8 miles
Towns with motels by Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
- North Utica6 miles
- Ottawa6 miles
- Oglesby7 miles
- LaSalle9 miles
The counties Illinois River Starved Rock Pool runs through
Piscifun tackle to load up before Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River
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Timber, cornfield and water around Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool through a lens
Photo: chumlee10, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Brian Plunkett, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
The bait shop questions about Illinois River Starved Rock Pool
How do I pin Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River on an Illinois road map?
The Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River extends from the Starved Rock Lock and Dam near Utica at mile 231 to the tailwater of the Marseilles Lock and Dam at mile 247. It touches LaSalle County.
Can I see the stage of Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River before driving?
The flow band streams Illinois River at Starved Rock, IL.
Where does IDNR map a put-in on Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River?
2 boat ramps, including Illinois River – Starved Rock Allen Park Boat Ramp, Ottawa on Illinois River, Starved Rock Pool.
What does the 2026 digest let me keep from Starved Rock 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. The limits band adds a digest entry for it.
Can an out-of-state angler fish Starved Rock 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).
How does IDNR rate Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River?
IDNR rates flathead catfish as excellent; largemouth bass, channel catfish, sauger, smallmouth bass and black crappie also appear.
Where do anglers on Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River buy tackle?
Starved Rock Marina, about 1 mile away, is first on our list.
Which banks of Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River are open?
Fish from public sites or with permission; farmland lines many banks.
Where does Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River sit on the river?
See the Illinois River page for all 6 pools.
Plan a float on Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River
Check the gauge, then pick a put-in.