Fishing near Peoria, Illinois
Peoria County, population 113,150.
- 3 milesto nearest lake page
- 5launches nearby
Pick for channel catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo: Wizard298, CC BY 2.0
Lakes and rivers around Peoria
Census 2020 figures give Peoria, a city of Peoria County, 113,150 residents. Charter Oak North Lake is the closest lake with a page, about 3 miles to the west. The shortest tow to a launch is 4 miles, to Illinois River – Peoria Detweiller Marina Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Peoria Pool.
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Peoria; miles are straight lines.
Lakes near Peoria
| Lake | Distance | Acres (IDNR) | Max depth (IDNR text) | Kind | Launches | Fish named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Oak North Lake | 3 miles west | 6 | lake | 0 | largemouth bass, bluegill | |
| Glen Oak Lagoon | 3 miles southeast | 3 | lake | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish | |
| Stone Water Park Ponds | 5 miles north | pond | 0 | bluegill, emerald bowfin | ||
| Bowen Lake | 11 miles east | 6 | lake | 1 | largemouth bass, black crappie, redear sunfish | |
| Jubilee College Pond | 11 miles northwest | 3 | pond | 0 | channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass | |
| Lakewood Park Pond | 12 miles southeast | pond | 0 | bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish |
Acres as listed on the IDNR IFishIllinois page (printed only where the page text gives the same size); depth only where the IDNR text states a maximum depth. Launch counts from the IDNR map and 2019 inventory.
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- Illinois River, Peoria Pool7 miles, pool of the Illinois River, IFishIllinois page, 9 IDNR-mapped ramps, 1 USGS gauge
Current streamflow near Peoria
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria, Il | 0 cfs, 2.13 ft gage height | Nov 5 4:45 pm |
| Farm Creek At Farmdale, Il | 7 cfs, 0.75 ft gage height | Nov 5 5:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 5, 2026 5:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
IDNR IFishIllinois river and pool pages, USGS GNIS names and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 4, 2026.
Pins on a map near Peoria
- Illinois River – Peoria Detweiller Marina Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Peoria PoolIllinois River, Peoria Pool, IDNR note: Fee required to launch, 4 miles
- Illinois River – Peoria East Peoria Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Peoria PoolIllinois River, Peoria Pool, launch, 6 miles
- Illinois River – Peoria Creve Coeur Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Peoria PoolIllinois River, Peoria Pool, launch, 7 miles
- Illinois River – LaGrange Mendenhall Boat Ramp on Illinois River, LaGrange PoolIllinois River, LaGrange Pool, launch, 10 miles
- Bowen Lake Boat RampBowen Lake, launch, 11 miles
IDNR IFishIllinois map, boat ramp and launch layer of October 2025 (KML; name, waterbody and notes as printed), read November 5, 2026. IDNR lands asset inventory, 2019 (boating and fishing assets layer), read November 4, 2026.
Minnow tanks and tackle around Peoria
Hooks and line near Peoria
- National Marine Service & Rentalsmarina, Peoria Heights, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Peoriasporting goods store, Peoria, 4 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Peoriasporting goods store, Peoria, 4 miles
- Wharf Harbor Sales Incmarina, Peoria, 4 miles
- Detweiller Marinamarina, Peoria, 4 miles
- Bass Pro Shops East Peoriasporting goods store, East Peoria, 5 miles
- spindler marinamarina, East Peoria, 5 miles
- EastPort Marinamarina, East Peoria, 6 miles
Yellow Pages, chain store and IDNR license vendor listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter association pages; read November 4, 2026.
Record weights from water around Peoria
| Species | Division | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipjack Herring | hook and line | 2 lbs 10.4 oz | Illinois River | May 11, 2022 |
| Flathead Catfish | bow and arrow | 30 lbs 0 oz | Illinois River | May 4, 2018 |
| Pumpkinseed | hook and line | 1 lb 1.92 oz | Hennepin-Hopper Lakes | June 19, 2020 |
| Brown Bullhead | hook and line | 3 lbs 4.8 oz | Thompson Lake (Emiquon) | May 8, 2017 |
| Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) | hook and line | 21 lbs 7.2 oz | Lake Bloomington | June 12, 2017 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026. Waters within 40 miles.
Keeper rules for a Peoria outing
IDNR sells the yearly fishing license for $15 (resident) and $31.50 (nonresident).
| Species | Daily limit | 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 |
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026. Lake and river pages print any site-specific digest entry.
Inside a cornfield drive of Peoria
Other towns around Peoria
- Peoria Heights2 miles
- West Peoria4 miles
- Bellevue5 miles
- East Peoria7 miles
- Dunlap7 miles
County fishing page around Peoria
- Peoria Countyseat: Peoria
A Piscifun reel lineup for a day on Peoria
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Timber, cornfield and water around Peoria through a lens
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Scott Tranchitella, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Rods in the trunk, staying in Peoria: answers
Which Illinois lake is the short hop from Peoria?
Charter Oak North Lake, 3 miles west.
How far is Peoria from a public ramp?
Illinois River – Peoria Detweiller Marina Boat Ramp on Illinois River, Peoria Pool, 4 miles away.
Which IDNR pier is nearest Peoria?
None within 15 miles on the IDNR inventory.
Which IDNR-listed vendor or bait store is nearest Peoria?
National Marine Service & Rentals, a 3 miles drive.
Inside which Illinois county line is Peoria?
Peoria County; its county page maps every IDNR launch.
Which IDNR license suits a Peoria weekend?
A nonresident annual Illinois license costs $31.50 in 2026.
Which lake near Peoria gives a boat the most room?
Charter Oak North Lake lists about 6 acres and lies 3 miles off.
Which Prairie State towns flank Peoria?
Closest: Peoria Heights (2 miles), West Peoria (4 miles) and Bellevue (5 miles).
Which record entries name water around Peoria?
Skipjack Herring, 2 lbs 10.4 oz, May 11, 2022 (hook and line), from Illinois River.
Base in Peoria and fish every dawn
Click any lake or river above for its own guide.