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Blue Catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
White Crappie
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Muskellunge
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
Paddlefish
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Illinois rivers and pools
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Mississippi River, Open River Fishing
A river reach of the Mississippi River in Randolph County.
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Illinois river pools
Reading the Mississippi River Open River before launching
IDNR treats Open River of the Mississippi River as its own river reach, reaching into Randolph County. IDNR sizes the pool at 65,092 acres. The far bank belongs to Iowa and Missouri, under a digest reciprocity text. Marissa sits under a mile from the map point.
Trailers go in at 6 boat ramps. Its stage is read at 1 USGS gauge.
65,092acres (IDNR)
6mapped ramps
1USGS gauges
1county
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Flow
USGS stations streaming from the Mississippi River Open River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Chester, Il | 232,000 cfs, 14.98 ft gage height | Nov 12 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Live values come from Mississippi River at Chester, IL, near the pool.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
Lock and dam stage readings for the Mississippi River are tabled on its main page, since a gauge cannot be tied to this pool by name.
Access
Concrete and gravel ramps on the Mississippi River Open River
- Mississippi River – Open River Little Rock Ferry Ramplaunch, Randolph County
- Mississippi River – Open River Mouth of Kaskaskia River Boat Ramplaunch, Randolph County
- Mississippi River – Open River Chester Boat Ramplaunch, Randolph County
- Mississippi River – Open River Wagner Landing Boat Ramplaunch, Jackson County
- Mississippi River – Open River Grand Tower Boat Ramplaunch, Jackson County
- Mississippi River – Open River Thebes Boat Ramplaunch, Alexander County
Ramps to know near Mississippi River Open River
- Teal Lake Boat Ramp on Willow Lake (PRKFWA)Willow Lake (PRKFWA), 7 miles
Farm fields line long stretches of Open River of the Mississippi River, so get a landowner yes before crossing.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Limits
The IDNR keep rules for the Mississippi River Open 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 |
Begin with the statewide rows for Open River of the Mississippi River; site entries override them.
Digest entries for the Mississippi River Open River
- All
- Nongame Species Combined:
- 100 total fish daily limit (excludes endangered and threatened species and the following game species: Crappie, Channel/Blue/Flathead Catfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth, White/Yellow/Striped/Hybrid Striped Bass, Trout …
- Blue or Channel Catfish
- : 20 fish daily limit.
- Flathead Catfish
- : 10 fish daily limit.
- Largemouth, Smallmouth, or Spotted Bass
Site-specific regulations on the IFishIllinois page, as printed, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
State-line rules on the Mississippi River Open River
- Reciprocity (digest)Officers of Illinois and Iowa will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used by hook-and-line sport fishermen on the Mississippi River proper forming a common boundary between Illinois and Iowa, including its backwater lakes and sloughs contiguous with the flow of waters in the main channel; provided that you do not fish from or attach any device or …
- Reciprocity (digest)Officers of Illinois and Missouri will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used in the Mississippi River and its backwaters within the boundary of Missouri adjacent to the state of Illinois. Persons licensed in only one state may also fish in the other state’s portion of any oxbow lakes through which the IllinoisMissouri boundary passes, and may fish …
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.
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Pools above and below Mississippi River Open River
For a second option, Mississippi River, Pool 26 lies about 59 miles from here.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River, Open River | 1 | 6 | ||
| Mississippi River, Pool 26 | 59 miles northwest | 2 | 7 | |
| Mississippi River, Pool 25 | 84 miles northwest | 0 | 7 | |
| Mississippi River, Pool 24 | 115 miles northwest | 0 | 6 | |
| Mississippi River, Pool 22 | 138 miles northwest | 0 | 2 |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
Nearby
Down the county road from Mississippi River Open River
More Illinois lakes within reach of Mississippi River Open River
- Eagle Lake (PRKFWA)6 miles
- Willow Lake (PRKFWA)7 miles
- Beaver Lake (PRKFWA)7 miles
- RV Lake (World Shooting Complex)7 miles
Tackle stops within a short drive of Mississippi River Open River
- Obie's Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Belleville, 20 miles
- Simonton Bait Storebait and tackle shop, Nashville, 20 miles
- Old Whiskers Bait Cobait and tackle shop, O Fallon, 22 miles
- Dan & Neats Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Waterloo, 23 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors O Fallonsporting goods store, O Fallon, 24 miles
Beds and breakfasts for a run to Mississippi River Open River
- Marissa4 miles
- New Athens8 miles
- Sparta10 miles
- Okawville14 miles
Courthouse-county pages reaching Mississippi River Open River
Piscifun
Spinning reels from Piscifun matched to Open River of the Mississippi River
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Fish photos
Fish to recognise on sight at Mississippi River, Open River
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Answers
What gets asked about Mississippi River Open River around Illinois
Which county courthouse covers Open River of the Mississippi River?
Its Illinois banks lie in Randolph County.
Which gauge reads Open River of the Mississippi River?
The flow band pulls Mississippi River at Chester, IL from USGS.
Which ramps reach Open River of the Mississippi River?
There are 6 boat ramps, Mississippi River – Open River Little Rock Ferry Ramp among them.
Does the digest print extra rules for Open River of the Mississippi 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. See its site-specific rows too.
What does IDNR charge for a license good on Open River of the Mississippi River?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026). Reciprocity with Iowa and Missouri is printed in the limits band.
Is Open River of the Mississippi River good for catfish?
IDNR names no species for it; statewide rows still apply.
Which store outfits a trip on Open River of the Mississippi River?
Stop at Obie's Tackle Co, about 20 miles away,.
Can I bank fish Open River of the Mississippi River?
Ask before crossing private ground; public ramps and parks are open.
How does Open River of the Mississippi River fit into the river?
IDNR treats it as one of 15 pools of the Mississippi River.
Put Open River of the Mississippi River on the calendar
Buy the Illinois license online first.