Photo of Mississippi River: Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Illinois river pools
What an Illinois angler should know about the Mississippi River Pool 18
Pool 18 of the Mississippi River, an Illinois navigation pool, runs past Henderson County. IDNR counts 17,181 acres for this reach. Here the river is a border with Iowa and Missouri, and the digest prints a reciprocity rule. The Census place of Oquawka lies under a mile off.
It has 3 boat ramps on the IDNR launch layer.
17,181acres (IDNR)
3mapped ramps
0USGS gauges
1county
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
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
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
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.
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
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
Unless the digest names it, Pool 18 of the Mississippi River uses the statewide rows.
Rules printed for the Mississippi River Pool 18
Recreational Use Restrictions
: It shall be unlawful to trespass upon a designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open …
All Fish:
While trolling, sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures.
Bluegill or Pumpkinseed Sunfish
: 25 fish daily harvest limit, singly or in aggregate.
Large or Smallmouth Bass
: 14 inch minimum length limit; 5 fish daily harvest limit.
Site-specific regulations on the IFishIllinois page, as printed, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
The Mississippi River Pool 18 as an Illinois border water
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).
What part of Illinois holds Pool 18 of the Mississippi River?
Pool 18 extends from Lock & Dam 18 located near Burlington, Iowa upstream to Lock & Dam 17 located near New Boston, Iowa. Its Illinois counties: Henderson County.
Is Pool 18 of the Mississippi River rising or falling?
The gauge lists skip this water.
How many IDNR-mapped ramps touch Pool 18 of the Mississippi River?
The IDNR map shows 3 boat ramps; start at Mississippi River – Pool 18 Oquawka Boat Ramp.
Which rules apply on Pool 18 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. Its own digest lines are in the limits band.
Which license covers Pool 18 of the Mississippi River?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026). The digest prints a reciprocity rule with Iowa and Missouri for this boundary water.
Which species does IDNR list for Pool 18 of the Mississippi River?
IDNR sources leave its species blank.
Which counter near Pool 18 of the Mississippi River keeps a minnow tank?
Head to Drydock Bait & Tackle, about 10 miles away,.
Do I need permission to fish Pool 18 of the Mississippi River?
Public ramps and parks only, unless a farmer agrees.
Where can I see the rest of the river beyond Pool 18 of the Mississippi River?
The Mississippi River page ties together all 15 Illinois pools, this one included.
Take the river road to Pool 18 of the Mississippi River
Fees, stamps and border rules sit on the license page.
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