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Illinois River 47 mi
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Sangamon River 47 mi
Photo: Denise Krebs, CC BY 2.0 
Peoria County 33 mi
Photo: Scott Tranchitella, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Mississippi River 32 mi
Photo: Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Illinois rivers and creeks
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Spoon River Fishing
An Illinois river through Champaign and Fulton counties.
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Illinois rivers
What an Illinois angler should know about the Spoon River
In Champaign and Fulton counties, the Spoon River is a river reached from ramps, parks and bridges. The Census place of Abingdon lies under a mile off.
You can check 3 USGS gauges before driving.
0mapped ramps
3USGS gauges
2counties
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
IDNR
Site notes IDNR prints for the Spoon River
- Location (IDNR)The Spoon River basin occupies a large area of west-central Illinois. The main river has its source near Kewanee, IL in Henry County. It flows south-westerly for approximately 80 miles before emptying into the Illinois River near Havana, IL in Fulton County.
- Description (IDNR)The Spoon River valley is narrow, averaging less than one mile throughout its length. The slope of the main river ranges from 4 feet/mile near Modena, to 0.60 feet/mile near the mouth at Havana. The typical topography ranges from flat to gently rolling in the cultivated prairie regions to abrupt hills in the remaining timber areas along the river and its tributary streams (Russell, 1976). The river basin …
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
History
IDNR history of the Spoon River fishery
- IDNRChannel Catfish are the primary sport fish in Illinois streams, and the Spoon River is a good stream for Channel and Flathead Catfish.
- Russell (1976) set small hoop nets (fiddler nets) and basket traps in 14 Spoon River sites for catfish population assessment.
- At that time relatively few individual Channel Catfish (5.8% of those captured) reached 12 inches total length.
IDNR fishery text, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
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Gauge readings from the Spoon River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Spoon River Near St. Joseph, Il | 2 cfs, 3.96 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:45 pm |
| Spoon River At London Mills, Il | 551 cfs, 3.88 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:45 pm |
| Spoon River At Seville, Il | 751 cfs, 7.31 ft gage height | Nov 11 11:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS sites behind the panel: Spoon River Near St. Joseph, IL, Spoon River at London Mills, IL and Spoon River at Seville, IL.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
Access
Reaching the Spoon River
The Spoon River has no ramp on the IDNR layer.
More public launches that reach Spoon River
- Double T Lake Boat RampDouble T Lake, 12 miles
Stay on public land along the Spoon 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.
Limits
Creel counts and inch rules for the Spoon 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 |
Unless the digest names it, the Spoon River uses the statewide rows.
Rules printed for the Spoon River
- Statewide Fishing Regulations apply to the Spoon River.
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.
Compare
The Spoon River and the next rivers over
The closest page in this table to the Spoon River is Mackinaw River, about 30 miles away.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spoon River | 3 | 0 | ||
| Mackinaw River | 30 miles southeast | 3 | 0 | |
| Lamoine River | 45 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | |
| Sangamon River | 47 miles south | 9 | 5 | |
| Edwards River | 48 miles northwest | 1 | 0 | |
| Green River (Henry County) | 51 miles north | 1 | 0 |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
Nearby
An Illinois blacktop jaunt from Spoon River
Lakes in the same corner of the state as Spoon River
- Double T Lake12 miles
- Strode Lake14 miles
- Veterans Lake15 miles
- Fitch-Bond Lake15 miles
Filling the bait bucket near Spoon River
- Walkers Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Bushnell, 19 miles
- Hosss Hawg Baitbait and tackle shop, Elmwood, 21 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Champaignsporting goods store, Champaign
- A & W Critters & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Rantoul
Illinois towns close to Spoon River
- Abingdon10 miles
- Knoxville12 miles
- Farmington13 miles
- Elmwood15 miles
Illinois rivers clustered around the Spoon River
- Mackinaw River30 miles
- Lamoine River45 miles
- Sangamon River47 miles
- Edwards River48 miles
- Green River (Henry County)51 miles
County guides linked to Spoon River
- Champaign County
- Fulton County
Piscifun
Piscifun gear a Prairie State angler could stow for the Spoon River
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Photos
The ponds and rivers around Spoon River, photographed
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Denise Krebs, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Scott Tranchitella, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Gerry Dincher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
Before the tackle box goes in the car for the Spoon River
What part of Illinois holds the Spoon River?
The Spoon River basin occupies a large area of west-central Illinois. The main river has its source near Kewanee, IL in Henry County. It flows south-westerly for approximately 80 miles before emptying Its Illinois counties: Champaign and Fulton counties.
Is the Spoon River rising or falling?
USGS posts Spoon River Near St. Joseph, IL and Spoon River at London Mills, IL above.
How many IDNR-mapped ramps touch the Spoon River?
Nearest mapped launch: Double T Lake Boat Ramp, 12 miles.
Which rules apply on the Spoon 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 the Spoon 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 the Spoon River?
IDNR sources leave its species blank.
Which counter near the Spoon River keeps a minnow tank?
Head to Walkers Bait Shop, about 19 miles away,.
Do I need permission to fish the Spoon River?
Public ramps and parks only, unless a farmer agrees.
Take the river road to the Spoon River
Fees, stamps and border rules sit on the license page.