Rock River, Milan Pool Fishing
A navigation pool of the Rock River in Henry, Rock Island and Whiteside counties.
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What an Illinois angler should know about the Rock River Milan Pool
Milan Pool of the Rock River, an Illinois navigation pool, runs past Henry, Rock Island and Whiteside counties. IDNR counts 5,844 acres for this reach. The Census place of Erie lies roughly 5 miles off.
It has 7 boat ramps on the IDNR launch layer. You can check 1 USGS gauge before driving.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Site notes IDNR prints for the Rock River Milan Pool
- Description (IDNR). The Milan Pool section is approximately 69 river miles in length (5,844 surface acres) from the Steel and Sears Dams in Milan to the Lower Dam in Sterling, Illinois.
- More from IDNRThe small tributary streams to this section include Coal Creek, Shaffer Creek, Zuma Creek, Rock Creek, Portland Creek, Coon Creek, Ellesworth Creek, Deer Creek, and Elkhorn Creek. The major tributary stream to this section includes the Green River. The Green River is located in northwestern Illinois, with the headwaters in the western portion of Lee County. The river flows in a southwesterly direction for …
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
IDNR history of the Rock River Milan Pool fishery
- 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.
Gauge readings from the Rock River Milan Pool
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Rock River Near Joslin, Il | 6,070 cfs, 6.66 ft gage height | Nov 13 1:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 2:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The panel reads Rock River Near Joslin, IL, the USGS sites closest to the pool ramps.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
The Rock River page holds the NOAA gauge table; no gauge carries this pool's name.
Reaching the Rock River Milan Pool
- Rock River – Milan Pool Lawrence Park Boat Rampgravel ramp, Gravel ramp, Whiteside County
- Rock River – Milan Pool Roadside Park Boat Ramplaunch, Whiteside County
- Rock River – Milan Pool Prophetstown Boat Ramplaunch, Whiteside County
- Rock River – Milan Pool Erie Boat Ramplaunch, Whiteside County
- Rock River – Milan Pool Ben Williamson Park Boat Ramplaunch, Small watercraft only, Rock Island County
- Rock River – Milan Pool Harold's Landing Boat Ramplaunch, Rock Island County
- Rock River – Milan Pool Old Greenvalley Boat Ramplaunch, Seasonal, Rock Island County
More public launches that reach Rock River Milan Pool
- Mississippi River – Pool 14 Shady Grove Boat RampMississippi River, Pool 14, 10 miles
Stay on public land along Milan Pool of the Rock River unless an owner agrees.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Creel counts and inch rules for the Rock River Milan 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 |
Unless the digest names it, Milan Pool of the Rock River uses the statewide rows.
Rules printed for the Rock River Milan 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
- .
- Other
- Rock River Prophetstown State Park
- Rock River SMB Milan Pool
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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The closest page in this table to Milan Pool of the Rock River is Rock River, Dixon Pool, about 12 miles away.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock River, Milan Pool | 1 | 7 | ||
| Rock River, Dixon Pool | 12 miles southwest | 1 | 2 | |
| Rock River, Fordham Pool | 12 miles southwest | 4 | 9 | |
| Rock River, Sterling Pool | 12 miles southwest | 2 | 4 | |
| Rock River, Oregon Pool | 82 miles northeast | 1 | 1 |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
An Illinois blacktop jaunt from Rock River Milan Pool
Lakes in the same corner of the state as Rock River Milan Pool
- Lake Carlton Silt Basin19 miles
- Lake Carlton19 miles
- Prospect Park Pond21 miles
- Johnson Sauk Trail Lake24 miles
Filling the bait bucket near Rock River Milan Pool
- Carbon Cliff Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Carbon Cliff, 15 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Molinesporting goods store, Moline, 21 miles
- Croegaerts Great Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Rock Island, 24 miles
- Fisheadtacklebait and tackle shop, Sterling, 25 miles
- Sunset Marinamarina, Rock Island, 25 miles
Illinois towns close to Rock River Milan Pool
- Erie5 miles
- Port Byron10 miles
- Geneseo11 miles
- Prophetstown12 miles
County guides linked to Rock River Milan Pool
- Henry County
- Rock Island County
- Whiteside County
Piscifun gear a Prairie State angler could stow for Milan Pool of the Rock River
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The ponds and rivers around Rock River, Milan Pool, photographed
Photo: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mike Goad, CC0 1.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Wizard298, CC BY 2.0
Straight replies on Rock River Milan Pool
What part of Illinois holds Milan Pool of the Rock River?
Its Illinois counties: Henry, Rock Island and Whiteside counties.
Is Milan Pool of the Rock River rising or falling?
USGS posts Rock River Near Joslin, IL above.
How many IDNR-mapped ramps touch Milan Pool of the Rock River?
The IDNR map shows 7 boat ramps; start at Rock River – Milan Pool Ben Williamson Park Boat Ramp.
Which rules apply on Milan 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. Its own digest lines are in the limits band.
Which license covers Milan 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).
Which species does IDNR list for Milan Pool of the Rock River?
IDNR sources leave its species blank.
Which counter near Milan Pool of the Rock River keeps a minnow tank?
Head to Carbon Cliff Bait & Tackle, about 15 miles away,.
Do I need permission to fish Milan Pool of the Rock River?
Public ramps and parks only, unless a farmer agrees.
Where can I see the rest of the river beyond Milan Pool of the Rock River?
The Rock River page ties together all 7 Illinois pools, this one included.
Take the river road to Milan Pool of the Rock River
Fees, stamps and border rules sit on the license page.