Alligator Gar in Illinois
Digest rows, record weight and lakes holding Illinois alligator gar.
- 1 a daylimit
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Illinois alligator gar, the short version
Illinois puts alligator gar on the row the digest prints as "Alligator Gar". Quoting the first sentence: "Harvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours."
It appears on 6 Illinois lake and river pages; Thompson Lake (Emiquon), Powerton Lake and Hennepin-Hopper Lakes come first. 1 water carry a site-specific line for it, Ohio River (Between IL & KY) first. The table records 12,072 released into 10 waters.
The digest row covering alligator gar
| Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | 1 per 24 hours | no statewide size limit printed |
Harvest limit is 1 Alligator Gar per 24 hours.
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 10, read November 4, 2026.
Local alligator gar rules in the Illinois digest
| Water as printed | County | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio River (Between IL & KY) | Alligator Gar | Catch and Release Fishing Only (9) |
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
Hatchery alligator gar, water by water
| Year | Water as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cache River Lower | 81 | Adult |
| 2025 | Big Muddy River | 23 | Adult |
| 2024 | Powerton Lake | 1,001 | Adult |
| 2024 | Horseshoe Lake – Madison County | 941 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Hennepin-Hopper Lakes | 839 | Adult |
| 2024 | Horseshoe Lake – Madison County | 3 | Adult |
| 2023 | Powerton Lake | 2,064 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2023 | Thompson Lake – Emiquon | 1,007 | Adult |
| 2023 | Horseshoe Lake – Madison County | 1,002 | Adult |
| 2023 | Sanganois Conservation Area Lakes | 1,002 | Adult |
| 2023 | Big Muddy River | 1,001 | Adult |
| 2023 | Duck Island Main Lake – RLFWA | 1,001 | Adult |
| 2023 | Horseshoe Lake – Alexander | 1,000 | Adult |
| 2023 | Kaskaskia River | 570 | Adult |
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois spots worth a trip for alligator gar
Still water for alligator gar
- Thompson Lake (Emiquon)4,000 acres
- Powerton Lake1,426 acres
- Hennepin-Hopper LakesPutnam County
- Duck Island Main Lake (RLFWA)Fulton County
Streams listing alligator gar
- Kaskaskia RiverDouglas County
- Big Muddy RiverJackson County
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Fish sharing a row with Illinois alligator gar
- Longnose Garno statewide row
- Shortnose Garno statewide row
- Spotted Garno statewide row
Prairie lakes and river bottoms near Alligator Gar, photographed
Photo: uptowner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Charles Fulton, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Land of Lincoln questions on alligator gar
Which digest row limits alligator gar?
It allows 1 per 24 hours; no statewide size limit printed. Local digest entries override it where printed.
When was the Illinois alligator gar record set?
It has no Illinois record so far.
What Illinois lake should I try for alligator gar?
Thompson Lake (Emiquon), Powerton Lake and Hennepin-Hopper Lakes head a list of 6 Illinois pages.
Which Illinois waters change the alligator gar rule?
1 water print their own wording, such as Ohio River (Between IL & KY).
Does IDNR stock alligator gar?
IDNR listed 12,072 in 10 waters, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
What paperwork does IDNR require for alligator gar?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Can a bowfished alligator gar set an Illinois record?
One division for hook and line, one for bow and arrow.
Do IDNR surveys rate alligator gar anywhere?
No outlook grade for it appears on the lake pages.
Set out for Illinois alligator gar
Every lake linked above lists its piers and docks.