Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) Fishing
An Illinois river through Vermilion County.
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The Vermilion River (Wabash River basin), quickly sorted
The Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) flows through Vermilion County. Food and fuel are closest in Westville, near under a mile away.
There are 3 USGS gauges near it.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026. Census 2023 places.
IDNR notes on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
- Description (IDNR)mountain biking and rent a horse for a short trail ride.
IDNR IFishIllinois waterbody page, ifishillinois.org, read November 4, 2026.
Gauge height and discharge along the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Vermilion River Above Oakwood, Il | 28 cfs, 0.91 ft gage height | Nov 13 1:45 am |
| North Fork Vermilion River Near Bismarck, Il | 15 cfs, 4.91 ft gage height | Oct 1 1:45 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2010. |
| Vermilion River Near Danville, Il | 91 cfs, 2.42 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.
Stations in the panel: Middle Fork Vermilion River Above Oakwood, IL, North Fork Vermilion River Near Bismarck, IL and Vermilion River Near Danville, IL.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; site list read November 4, 2026.
Lock and dam gauge readings on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
| NWS gauge | Reading | Flow | Flood category | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabash River at Covington | 6.88 ft | 3.91 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 18:45:00 UTC |
| Vermilion River (E-IL) near Danville | 2.7 ft | 0.226 kcfs | no flooding | 2026-11-05 05:00:00 UTC |
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge readings (water.noaa.gov), read November 5, 2026; dated readings, not live (kcfs = thousand cubic feet per second).
Backing a trailer into the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
You will not find the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) on the IDNR ramp map; the nearest launches are below.
Neighbouring ramps around Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
- Lake Vermilion Boat RampLake Vermilion, 9 miles
- High Lake Boat Ramp on Long Lake (KSRA)Long Lake (KSRA), 11 miles
- Clear Lake Boat RampClear Lake (KSRA), 11 miles
- Middle Fork Vermilion River Kickapoo State Park Boat Ramp on Clear Lake (KSRA)Clear Lake (KSRA), 11 miles
- Lake Mingo Boat RampLake Mingo, 14 miles
Enter the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) from public sites or with permission.
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026.
Fish allowed in the cooler from the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
| 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 |
On the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin), the statewide digest rows hold unless a site-specific line below changes them.
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.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Lining the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) up against nearby streams
North Fork Vermilion River (Vermilion County) is the nearest neighbour, roughly 6 miles off.
| Water | Distance | USGS gauges | Mapped ramps | First IDNR-rated fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) | 3 | 0 | ||
| North Fork Vermilion River (Vermilion County) | 6 miles northwest | 1 | 0 | |
| Middle Fork Vermilion River | 9 miles northwest | 1 | 1 | |
| Iroquois River | 53 miles north | 2 | 1 | |
| Embarras River | 59 miles southwest | 4 | 6 | |
| West Okaw River | 70 miles southwest | 1 | 0 |
USGS gauges, IDNR boat ramp layer and IDNR outlook lines; read November 4, 2026.
Inside a cornfield drive of Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
Nearby impoundments to try after Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
- Lake Vermilion10 miles
- Long Lake (KSRA)11 miles
- Clear Lake (KSRA)11 miles
- Lake Mingo14 miles
Bait counters on the drive to Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
- Pam's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Georgetown, 9 miles
- Henk's Bait & Bitebait and tackle shop, Danville, 9 miles
Places to sleep and eat near Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
- Westville4 miles
- Tilton5 miles
- Georgetown6 miles
- Danville7 miles
Sister streams of the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
- North Fork Vermilion River (Vermilion County)6 miles
- Middle Fork Vermilion River9 miles
- Iroquois River53 miles
- Embarras River59 miles
- West Okaw River70 miles
Vermilion River (Wabash River basin), cut along Illinois county lines
A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
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Telling the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) fish apart by photo
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Straight replies on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
Which Illinois counties sit along the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
Start in Vermilion County.
Which USGS station covers the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
The flow band carries Middle Fork Vermilion River Above Oakwood, IL and North Fork Vermilion River Near Bismarck, IL, live from USGS.
Where do boaters get onto the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
Use Lake Vermilion Boat Ramp, some 9 miles away.
How many bass can I keep on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
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.
Is an Illinois license needed on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
What bites on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
IDNR prints no fish list for it.
Can I get bait on the way to the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)?
Our list starts with Pam's Bait Shop, about 9 miles away,.
Are the banks of the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin) public?
Much Illinois river frontage is private; use public ramps, parks and state sites, or ask the owner.
Wait for a good stage on the Vermilion River (Wabash River basin)
IDNR fees and the statewide table are on one page.