Rock River, Fordham Pool Fishing
A navigation pool of the Rock River in Winnebago County.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Rock River: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
First Illinois notes on the Rock River Fordham Pool
Fordham Pool of the Rock River is a navigation pool touching Winnebago County. The IDNR page gives the pool 2,057 acres. It is about 2 miles to Machesney Park.
IDNR plots 9 boat ramps here. Stage comes from 4 USGS gauges.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
What IDNR says about the Rock River Fordham Pool
- Description (IDNR)These two sections have a combined length of approximately 27 river miles in length (2,192 surface acres) from the Fordam Dam to the Beloit Dam in Beloit, Wisconsin. The small tributary streams that enter this section are Spring Creek, South Kinnikinnick Creek, North Kinnikinnick Creek, Dry Creek, and Turtle Creek. The Fordham Pool section also has the major tributary stream addition of the Pecatonica River. …
- More from IDNRIt flows in a southeasterly direction through eastern Stephenson County and western Winnebago County and enters the Rock River near Rockton.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Survey background on the Rock River Fordham Pool
- IDNRThe Rock River was sampled each fall from 2020 through 2025 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Region 1 Fisheries crew.
- The purpose was to collect and evaluate the sport fish populations in the Illinois section of the Rock River.
- State endangered and State threatened fish species were also collected and documented with the surveys.
IDNR fishery text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
What the Rock River Fordham Pool is running right now
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Rock River At Rockton, Il | 4,000 cfs, 4.68 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:30 am |
| Rock River At Latham Park, Il | 4.72 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:30 am |
| Rock River At Auburn St At Rockford | 2.90 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:45 am |
| Rock River Above Dam At Rockford, Il | 2.38 ft gage height | Nov 13 1:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 1:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Closest USGS stations to this reach: Rock River at Rockton, IL, Rock River at Latham Park, IL, Rock River at Auburn St at Rockford and Rock River Above Dam at Rockford, IL.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
We keep the Rock River NOAA readings on the main page rather than guess which pool each gauge reads.
Launching onto the Rock River Fordham Pool
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Mactown Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Rockton Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Hononegah Forest Preserve Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Riverside Park Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Atwood Forest Preserve Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Stones Landing Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool MercyHealth Sportscore Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Martin Park Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
- Rock River – Fordham Pool Prairie Street Boat Ramplaunch, Winnebago County
Launches one bay over from Rock River Fordham Pool
- Olson Lake Boat RampOlson Lake, 5 miles
Much Illinois stream frontage is private; fish Fordham Pool of the Rock 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.
Illinois limits that apply on the Rock River Fordham 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 |
Fordham Pool of the Rock River follows the statewide table plus any site entry.
Digest rules along the Rock River Fordham Pool
- Rock River Fishing Regulations as of 2026:
- From the Wisconsin State Line downstream to the Confluence with the Mississippi River, including tributaries:
- Smallmouth Bass: 14-inch minimum Length Limit with a daily harvest limit of 3 fish. All Smallmouth Bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15
- th
- .
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.
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Next over: Rock River, Milan Pool, around 7 miles away.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock River, Fordham Pool | 4 | 9 | ||
| Rock River, Milan Pool | 7 miles north | 1 | 7 | |
| Rock River, Oregon Pool | 7 miles north | 1 | 1 | |
| Rock River, Rockton Pool | 7 miles north | 0 | 0 | |
| Rock River, Steel Dam Tailwaters | 7 miles north | 0 | 0 |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
A few miles of blacktop from Rock River Fordham Pool
Other water a county or two from Rock River Fordham Pool
- Pierce Lake5 miles
- Olson Lake5 miles
- Lake Victoria7 miles
- Levings Lake9 miles
Where to buy crawlers and minnows near Rock River Fordham Pool
- Angler's Edge Fishing and Marinefly shop, Loves Park, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Rockfordsporting goods store, Rockford, 8 miles
- Marina Health Care Consultants Incmarina, Rockford, 9 miles
- Rockford Baitbait and tackle shop, Rockford, 10 miles
- Belvidere Bait N Tacklebait and tackle shop, Belvidere, 13 miles
Towns with motels by Rock River Fordham Pool
- Machesney Park2 miles
- Loves Park4 miles
- Roscoe4 miles
- Rockton5 miles
The counties Rock River Fordham Pool runs through
Piscifun tackle to load up before Fordham Pool of the Rock River
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Timber, cornfield and water around Rock River, Fordham Pool through a lens
Photo: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tracy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Lampros, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
The bait shop questions about Rock River Fordham Pool
How do I pin Fordham Pool of the Rock River on an Illinois road map?
It touches Winnebago County.
Can I see the stage of Fordham Pool of the Rock River before driving?
The flow band streams Rock River at Rockton, IL and Rock River at Latham Park, IL.
Where does IDNR map a put-in on Fordham Pool of the Rock River?
9 boat ramps, including Rock River – Fordham Pool Atwood Forest Preserve Boat Ramp.
What does the 2026 digest let me keep from Fordham Pool of the Rock 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 Fordham Pool of the Rock 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 Fordham Pool of the Rock River?
No fish are named for it in IDNR sources.
Where do anglers on Fordham Pool of the Rock River buy tackle?
Angler's Edge Fishing and Marine, about 4 miles away, is first on our list.
Which banks of Fordham Pool of the Rock River are open?
Fish from public sites or with permission; farmland lines many banks.
Where does Fordham Pool of the Rock River sit on the river?
See the Rock River page for all 7 pools.
Plan a float on Fordham Pool of the Rock River
Check the gauge, then pick a put-in.