PART 810 SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS FOR THE WATERS OF ILLINOIS : Sections Listing

TITLE 17: CONSERVATION
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE
PART 810 SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS FOR THE WATERS OF ILLINOIS

AUTHORITY: Implementing and authorized by Sections 1-120, 1-125, 1-150, 5-5, 10-5, 10-10, 10-15, 10-20, 10-25, 10-30, 10-35, 10-45, 10-50, 10-60, 10-75, 10-90, 10-95, 15-50, 20-5, 20-35 and 25-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code [515 ILCS 5].

SOURCE: Adopted at 5 Ill. Reg. 751, effective January 8, 1981; codified at 5 Ill. Reg. 10647; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 342, effective December 23, 1981; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 7411, effective June 11, 1982; amended at 7 Ill. Reg. 209, effective December 22, 1982; amended at 8 Ill. Reg. 1564, effective January 23, 1984; amended at 8 Ill. Reg. 16769, effective August 30, 1984; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 2916, effective February 26, 1985; emergency amendment at 9 Ill. Reg. 3825, effective March 13, 1985, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 10, 1985; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 6181, effective April 24, 1985; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 14291, effective September 5, 1985; amended at 10 Ill. Reg. 4835, effective March 6, 1986; amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 4638, effective March 10, 1987; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 5306, effective March 8, 1988; emergency amendment at 12 Ill. Reg. 6981, effective April 4, 1988, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired September 1, 1988; emergency amendment at 12 Ill. Reg. 10525, effective June 7, 1988, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired November 4, 1988; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 15982, effective September 27, 1988; amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 8419, effective May 19, 1989; emergency amendment at 13 Ill. Reg. 12643, effective July 14, 1989, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired December 11, 1989; emergency amendment at 13 Ill. Reg. 14085, effective September 4, 1989, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired February 1, 1990; emergency amendment at 13 Ill. Reg. 15118, effective September 11, 1989, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired February 8, 1990; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 6164, effective April 17, 1990; emergency amendment at 14 Ill. Reg. 6865, effective April 17, 1990, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired September 19, 1990; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 8588, effective May 21, 1990; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 16863, effective October 1, 1990; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 4699, effective March 18, 1991; emergency amendment at 15 Ill. Reg. 5430, effective March 27, 1991, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 24, 1991; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 9977, effective June 24, 1991; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 13347, effective September 3, 1991; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 5267, effective March 20, 1992; emergency amendment at 16 Ill. Reg. 6016, effective March 25, 1992, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 22, 1992; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 12526, effective July 28, 1992; amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 3853, effective March 15, 1993; emergency amendment at 17 Ill. Reg. 5915, effective March 25, 1993, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 22, 1993; amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 10806, effective July 1, 1993; amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 3277, effective February 28, 1994; emergency amendment at 18 Ill. Reg. 5667, effective March 25, 1994, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 12652, effective August 9, 1994; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 2396, effective February 17, 1995; emergency amendment at 19 Ill. Reg. 5262, effective April 1, 1995, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 10614, effective July 1, 1995; amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 4640, effective March 6, 1996; recodified by changing the agency name from Department of Conservation to Department of Natural Resources at 21 Ill. Reg. 9389; amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 4709, effective April 1, 1997; emergency amendment at 21 Ill. Reg. 5590, effective April 15, 1997, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 12140, effective August 26, 1997; amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 4930, effective March 2, 1998; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 3434, effective March 8, 1999; emergency amendment at 23 Ill. Reg. 7317, effective June 10, 1999, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 8406, effective July 7, 1999; amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 3736, effective February 25, 2000; amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 6296, effective March 26, 2001; emergency amendment at 25 Ill. Reg. 7947, effective June 16, 2001, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency amendment at 25 Ill. Reg. 9912, effective August 1, 2001, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 11386, effective August 14, 2001; emergency amendment at 25 Ill. Reg. 12122, effective September 15, 2001, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 1210, effective January 16, 2002; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 4294, effective March 6, 2002; amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 3376, effective February 14, 2003; amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 4607, effective March 1, 2004; amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 3955, effective February 24, 2005; amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 4810, effective March 1, 2006; amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 3480, effective February 16, 2007; emergency amendment at 31 Ill. Reg. 8265, effective May 25, 2007, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 14432, effective October 5, 2007; amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3302, effective February 25, 2008; amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 5275, effective March 25, 2009; amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 6391, effective April 20, 2010; amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 4011, effective February 22, 2011; amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 5461, effective March 22, 2012; amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 6658, effective May 1, 2013; amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 16426, effective October 3, 2013; emergency amendment at 38 Ill. Reg. 13022, effective June 9, 2014, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired November 5, 2014; amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 6517, effective April 27, 2015; amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 6000, effective March 25, 2016; amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 4006, effective March 24, 2017; amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 7773, effective April 20, 2018; amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 3399, effective February 27, 2019; amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 3916, effective February 26, 2020; amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1898, effective January 27, 2021; amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 1934, effective January 30, 2023; amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 15925, effective October 30, 2023.

 

Section 810.5  Definitions

 

Aquatic life – all fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, algae, aquatic plants and aquatic invertebrates, and any other aquatic animals or plants that the Department identifies in administrative rules.

 

Catch and Release Fishing – no harvest of target fish species permitted. Caught fish must be returned to the water immediately unharmed.

 

Fishing – taking or attempting to take aquatic life in any waters of the State, by any method, and all other acts such as placing, setting, drawing or using any device commonly used for the taking of aquatic life, whether resulting in taking or not. This also applies to the removal of dead and decaying aquatic life.

 

Harvest – any aquatic life taken into possession from any waters of the State by any method.

 

In the aggregate – combination of two or more species or hybrids that in total do not exceed the daily harvest limit.

 

Protected Slot Length Limit – No harvest of fish within the specified length range.  Fish must be immediately released.

 

Relic Mussel Shell – the shell of a mussel that apparently died of natural causes in the water and contains no meat or soft parts. The shell readily exhibits noticeable sediment, vegetation, algal or mineral stains, discolorations, soiling, weathering or other visual evidence on its interior surface that clearly and unambiguously shows the mussel shell has not been cooked-out or freshly cleaned.

 

Snagging – the practice of dragging or jerking a hook (or hooks), baited or unbaited, through the water with the intention of hooking a fish on contact anywhere on the body other than the inside of the mouth.

 

Take – to lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or ensnare, or attempt to do so.

 

Water of the State – any water within the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois that is adapted for purposes of navigation or public access.

 

> − symbol means "greater than".

 

≥ − symbol means "greater than or equal to".

 

< − symbol means "less than".

 

≤ − symbol means "less than or equal to".

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 1934, effective January 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.10  Sale of Fish and Fishing Seasons − Statewide

 

a)         No fish or parts thereof (including eggs) taken by sport fishing methods (including snagging) may be bought, sold or bartered.

 

b)         Lake Michigan – The sport fishing season for rainbow smelt shall be from March 1 to April 30.

 

c)         It is unlawful to fish within 250 yards of an occupied duck or goose blind on Department-owned or -managed sites during the migratory waterfowl season.

 

d)         Lake Michigan, Calumet River, and the Chicago River including its North Branch, South Branch, and the North Shore Channel – the sport fishing harvest for yellow perch shall not be permitted from May 1 through June 15 annually.

 

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 6517, effective April 27, 2015)

 

Section 810.14  Wanton Waste – Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Mollusks and Crustaceans Abandonment

 

a)         Except as provided in this Section, it is unlawful for any person at any time to take or possess any fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans authorized by this Part in Illinois waters by sportfishing methods and then intentionally leave or abandon such fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or portions thereof resulting in wanton or needless waste.

 

b)         "Wanton or needless waste" means to place, leave, dump or abandon any fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean parts protected by this Part along or upon any public right-of-way or highway, waterway or stream, or on any public or private property without the permission of the owner or tenant.  No disposal of fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean portions shall be allowed on State owned or leased properties except at designated fish cleaning stations, where available.

 

c)         This Section shall not apply to fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean parts used for the purposes of bait or other lawful purposes or to injurious species of fish that accidentally jump into a watercraft and are immediately returned to the water.

 

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 3399, effective February 27, 2019)

 

Section 810.15  Statewide and Site Specific Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods) Regulations

 

a)         Legal Methods of Taking

Aquatic life, as listed by species in subsection (b), may be taken by means of legal bowfishing devices, including a pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, spear or gig. A valid sport fishing license is required for taking aquatic life under this Section. Aquatic life taken by these means shall not be sold or bartered. No other aquatic life (e.g., fish, amphibian or reptile species) may be taken in this State by these means.

 

b)         Species

Only fish, amphibian and reptile species listed may be taken by bowfishing and other legal methods and in accordance with length limits and daily harvest limits identified for each. Fish, amphibian and reptile species permitted to be taken by bowfishing and other archery/spear fishing legal methods in Illinois waters include:

 

1)         Order Petromyzontiformes

 

Family Petromyzontidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Sea lamprey – Petromyzon marinus (Linnaeus)

 

2)         Order Lepisosteiformes

 

Family Lepisosteidae (Native Species):

 

Spotted gar − Lepisosteus oculatus (Winchell)

 

Longnose gar – Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus)

 

Shortnose gar – Lepisosteus platostomus (Rafinesque)

 

Alligator Gar – Atractosteus spatula (Lacepede) native

 

3)         Order Amiiformes

 

Family Amiidae (Native Species):

 

Bowfin – Amia calva (Linnaeus)

 

4)         Order Clupeiformes

 

Family Clupeidae (Native Species):

 

Gizzard shad – Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur)

 

5)         Order Cypriniformes

 

Family Cyprinidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Grass carp − Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes)

 

Common carp − Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)

 

Silver carp − Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes)

 

Bighead carp − Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson)

 

Goldfish − Carassius auratus (Linnaeus)

 

Black carp – Mylopharyngodon piceus

 

Family Cobitidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Oriental weatherfish – Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor)

 

Family Catostomidae (Native Species):

 

River carpsucker − Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque)

 

Quillback carpsucker − Carpiodes cyprinus (Lesueur)

 

Highfin carpsucker − Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque)

 

White sucker − Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede)

 

Blue sucker − Cycleptus elongates (Lesueur)

 

Smallmouth buffalo − Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque)

 

Bigmouth buffalo − Ictiobus cyprinellus (Valenciennes)

 

Black buffalo − Ictiobus niger (Rafinesque)

 

Spotted sucker − Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque)

 

Silver redhorse − Moxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque)

 

Black redhorse − Moxostoma duquesnei (Lesueur)

 

Golden redhorse − Moxostoma erythrurum (Rafinesque)

 

Shorthead redhorse − Moxostoma macrolepidotum (Lesueur)

 

6)         Order Characiformes

 

Family Serrasalmidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Pacu – Callisoma spp. (Eigenmann and Kennedy)

 

7)         Order Siluriformes

 

Family Ictaluridae (Native Species):

 

Channel catfish – Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

 

Blue catfish – Ictalurus furcatus (Lesueur)

 

Flathead catfish – Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque)

 

Yellow bullhead – Ameiurus natalis (Lesueur)

 

Brown bullhead – Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur)

 

Black bullhead – Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque)

 

Family Ictaluridae (Non-Native Species):

 

White catfish – Ameiurus catus (Linnaeus)

 

8)         Order Perciformes

 

Family Sciaenidae (Native Species):

 

Freshwater drum – Aplodinotus grunniens (Rafinesque)

 

9)         Order Cichliformes

 

Family Cichlidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Tilapia – Tilapia spp. (Smith)

 

10)         Order Gobbiformes

 

Family Gobiidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Round goby – Neogobius malanistomus (Pallas)

 

11)         Order Anabantiformes

 

Family Channidae (Non-Native Species):

 

Northern snakehead – Channa argus (Cantor)

 

12)         Order Anura

 

Family Ranidae (Native Species):

 

American bullfrog – Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw)

 

13)         Order Testudines

 

Family Chelydridae (Native Species):

 

Common snapping turtle – Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus)

 

c)         Non-Native Fish Species

No live possession of non-native fish species listed in subsection (b) is permitted, with the exception of common carp and goldfish.

 

d)         Waters Open to Bowfishing and Other Legal Archery and Spearfishing Methods

 

1)         Illinois waters open to bowfishing and other legal methods include all public rivers and streams noted in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 3704.Appendix A, except as restricted by subsections (d)(3) through (14).

 

2)         All public site specific waters as noted in Section 810.45.

 

3)         Catfish species may only be taken in rivers and connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters (see list in Section 810.15) as noted in subsections (d)(4) through (15).

 

4)         Mississippi River connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters, including that portion of the Kaskaskia River below the navigation lock and dam, except:

 

A)        Quincy Bay, including Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Area.

 

B)        Spring Lake in the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

 

C)        Mark Twain U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge Waters (except by special permit).

 

5)         Illinois River and connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters from Route 89 highway bridge downstream, except for:

 

A)        U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge waters.

 

B)        Donnelley/DePue Fish and Wildlife Area

 

C)        Rice Lake Complex, including all of Big Lake.

 

D)        Meredosia Lake in Cass and Morgan Counties during the central zone duck season.

 

E)        Clear Lake in Mason County 7 days prior to and during the central zone duck season.

 

6)         Wabash River.

 

7)         Embarras River, except for Route 130 in Coles County upstream to the dam.

 

8)         Sangamon River, downstream of Belt Route 48 southwest of Decatur to mouth in Cass County.

 

9)         Kaskaskia River south of Route U.S. 50 Bridge to mouth in Randolph County.

 

10)         Little Wabash River.

 

11)         Big Muddy River, south of State Route 14 highway bridge in Franklin County to mouth in Jackson County.

 

12)         Skillet Fork.

 

13)         Cache River from Route 51 downstream to the Mississippi River via Cache Diversion Channel, but not including that portion of the Cache River between the Cache Diversion Channel Levee and the Ohio River.

 

14)         Saline River in Gallatin and Saline Counties.

 

15)         Ohio River, except for:

 

A)        Olmstead Locks and Dam downstream to a line perpendicular with the end of the longest lock wall, including the circular cell portion.

 

B)        Smithland Dam downstream to a line perpendicular to the end of the outer lock wall.

 

C)        Within 50 yards of the mouth of any tributary or stream.

 

e)         Bowfishing for common snapping turtles is not permitted in the following Illinois counties:  Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Saline, Williamson, Jackson, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski and Alexander.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 15925, effective October 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.20  Snagging

 

a)         Sport fishermen are permitted only one pole and line device to which can be attached no more than two hooks. On the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, the maximum treble hook size is 5/0; gaffs may not be used to land paddlefish.

 

b)         Species of Fish and Snagging Catch Limit

 

1)         Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging:

 

Asian Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit

 

Carp − no harvest limit

 

Buffalo − no harvest limit

 

Freshwater Drum − no harvest limit

 

Salmon (coho and chinook only) − 5 fish in the aggregate daily harvest limit

 

Paddlefish − 2 per day; the maximum length limit for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33" eye-fork length (EFL) (all paddlefish greater than or equal to 33" EFL must be immediately released back to the Mississippi River); the minimum length limit for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri is 24-inch EFL (all paddlefish less than or equal to 24-inch EFL must be immediately released back to the Mississippi River)

 

Bowfin − no harvest limit

 

Gizzard shad − no harvest limit

 

Carpsuckers − no harvest limit

 

Longnose gar − no harvest limit

 

Shortnose gar − no harvest limit

 

Suckers − no harvest limit

 

2)         No sorting (i.e., catching more fish than is allowed and putting back some in order to keep larger ones) of snagged salmon and paddlefish is permitted, except for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where sorting is permitted.  Every paddlefish snagged must be included in the daily harvest limit.  Every salmon 10 inches in total length or longer snagged must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit.  Once the daily limit of salmon or paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease.

 

c)         Waters Open to Snagging and Snagging Season

 

1)         Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Illinois River, except for the area below the Peoria Lock and Dam where snagging is permitted year round.

 

2)         Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island − Madison County, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks − Madison County where no snagging is permitted. Snagging is permitted from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa.

 

3)         Snagging for fish is permitted year-round within a 100 yard limit upstream or downstream of the dam at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County.

 

4)         Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted:

 

A)        Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.

 

B)        Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only).

 

C)        Winnetka Power Plant discharge area.

 

D)        Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

 

d)         Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish.  All snagged salmon and paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly, in accordance with Article 5, Section 5-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1898, effective January 27, 2021)

 

Section 810.25  Trotlines

 

a)         Sportfishermen must check trotlines and other legal hook and line devices at least once every 24 hours.

 

b)         Any sport fishing device, including trot line device, bank pole, and throw line or buoyed ganging devices, left unattended must be tagged with the name and mailing address of the operator.  All required tags shall be in a position to be at all times exposed to public view.  [515 ILCS 5/10-95]

 

c)         Trotlines and other sportfishing devices and all parts thereof must not be abandoned and shall be completely removed when they are not in compliance with subsections (a) and (b).  Abandoned, for purposes of this Section, includes but is not limited to, hooks in the water with no bait attached, rotted bait, silted-in devices, dead or severely stressed aquatic life caught on the hooks, as well as the failure to check and remove aquatic life every 24 hours.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 1934, effective January 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.28  Mussels

 

a)         Persons possessing a sport fishing license may possess up to 50 relic mussel shells for personal collection.

 

b)         Collected live mussels may not be transported between water bodies.

 

c)         Mussels collected under a sport fishing license may only be taken for personal use and may not be sold or bartered.

 

d)         Species allowed for harvest or collection can be found on the Aquatic Life Approved Species List as designated in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 870.10.

 

(Source:  Added at 42 Ill. Reg. 7773, effective April 20, 2018)

 

Section 810.30  Pole and Line Fishing Only (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 15 Ill. Reg. 4699, effective March 18, 1991)

 

Section 810.35  Statewide Sportfishing (Hook and Line and Other Non-Bowfishing or Non‑Snagging Legal Methods Under a Sportfishing License) Regulations – Daily Harvest and Size Limits

 

a)         Length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail with the fish laid flat on a ruler, with the mouth of the fish closed and the tail lobes pressed together.

 

b)         No fish species may be dressed (filleted or head and tail removed) on any waters to which length or bag limits are applicable.  Regardless of where taken, no fish less than the specified minimum length or more than the daily harvest shall be possessed while taking from, or on, any waters to which length or bag limits and/or daily harvest limits apply.  While taking from areas designated as "Catch and Release Only", all catch and release species must be immediately released back into the waters from which taken.

 

c)         Statewide limits by type of fish:

 

1)         Channel Catfish

There are no daily harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

 

2)         Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass

 

A)        Daily harvest limit is 6 bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

 

B)        In streams and rivers (excluding the mainstem of the Mississippi, Ohio, including the Golconda Marina and Wabash Rivers) the daily harvest can contain no more than 3 smallmouth bass.

 

C)        In rivers and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio, including the Golconda Marina, Wabash and Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel and navigable portions of the Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River, all smallmouth bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15.

 

D)        There is no statewide size limit.

 

3)         Muskellunge, Northern Pike and Their Hybrids

 

A)        All muskellunge and muskellunge hybrids (tiger muskie) taken must be 36" in total length or longer, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

 

B)        No more than one muskellunge or muskellunge hybrid (tiger muskie) may be taken per day, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

 

C)        All northern pike taken must be 24" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River where there is no size limit.

 

D)        No more than 3 northern pike may be taken per day, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

 

4)         Crappie (White, Black or Hybrid Crappie)

There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

 

5)         Bluegill, Redear Sunfish and other Sunfish

There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

 

6)         Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass and Hybrids

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 in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.  For those fish 17" in total length or longer, the daily limit is 3 fish, either singly or in the aggregate, except in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where there is a 30 fish daily harvest limit for all striped, white, yellow or hybrid striped bass.  In the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, there is a 25 fish daily harvest on striped bass, white bass, yellow bass and their hybrids, either singly or in the aggregate.

 

7)         Trout and Salmon

Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate.

 

8)         Walleye, Sauger or their Hybrid

 

A)        All walleye, sauger, or their hybrid (saugeye) taken must be 14" in total length or longer, except in the Mississippi River, Wabash River, or as specified under Site Specific Regulations.

 

B)        Daily harvest limit is 6 walleye, sauger or their hybrid, either singly or in the aggregate, except in those waters listed under Site Specific Regulations.

 

9)         Paddlefish

Daily harvest limit is 2 paddlefish.

 

10)         Injurious Species

For injurious species, as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 805, there are no harvest or size limits.  Possession of live specimens, progeny thereof, viable eggs, or gametes is prohibited.

 

11)         Alligator Gar

Harvest limit is 1 alligator gar per 24 hours.

 

d)         The limits established in this Part on the number and size of fish a person may take in a day do not apply to a person fishing in waters wholly within his or her private property.  [515 ILCS 5/10-150]

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 15925, effective October 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.37  Definitions for Site Specific Sportfishing Regulations (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 47 Ill. Reg. 1934, effective January 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.40  Daily Catch and Size Limits (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 15 Ill. Reg. 4699, effective March 18, 1991)

 

Section 810.45  Site Specific Water Area Regulations

 

a)         Site specific regulations are listed by water area affected.  The coverage of the regulation is dictated by the extent of the water area listed and not by the county.  In some cases, regulations for a given water area or site may extend beyond the counties listed.  The counties listed refer to the location of the dam or outfall for impoundments or mouths of small streams.  Since large rivers or streams usually flow through many counties, the term “Multiple” is used rather than listing all counties where the large stream or river flows.

 

b)         If a water area is not listed, then statewide restrictions apply.  If a Minimum Length Limit or a Daily Harvest Limit is not listed, then statewide restrictions apply.

 

c)         Daily Harvest Limits are an aggregate count of all species listed for each regulation, except as noted otherwise.  For species not listed, statewide restrictions apply.

 

d)         The following subsections explain additional restrictions or special provisions referred to by number in parentheses for water areas listed in this Section.

 

1)         Sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached (Alabama rigs not allowed) while fishing, except that legal size cast nets (in accordance with Section 810.50(a)(2)), shad scoops, and minnow seines may be used to obtain shad, minnows and crayfish to use as bait, provided that they are not sold, and except that bullfrogs may be taken by hand, gig, pitchfork, spear, landing net and hook and line during bullfrog season.

 

2)         Sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, minnow trap, cast net or shad scoop for bait collecting in the following water areas:

 

Charleston Lower Channel Lake tailwaters from that portion of the Embarras River from the Charleston Lower Channel Lake Dam downstream to the Route 130 Bridge.

 

Clinton Lake tailwaters from that portion of Salt creek from the Clinton Dam downstream to the route 10 Bridge.

 

Cook County Forest Preserve District Waters (except in the Des Plaines River)

 

Lake Decatur tailwaters from that portion of the Sangamon River from the Lake Decatur Dam downstream to the Route 48 Bridge.

 

3)         All jugs set in a body of water shall be under the immediate supervision of the fisherman.  Immediate supervision shall be defined as the fisherman being on the water where the jugs are set and readily available to identify jugs to law enforcement officers.

 

4)         When using live bait, all live bait in excess of 8” in total length shall be rigged with a quick set rig.  The hook shall be immediately set upon the strike.  A quick set rig is defined as follows:  a live bait rig with up to 2 treble hooks attached anywhere on the live bait; single hooks are prohibited.  This subsection (d)(4) does not apply to trotlines, jug lines, etc., if allowed on the lake.

 

5)         Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin and suckers by pitchfork, gigs, bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices.

 

6)         The daily harvest limit for yellow perch shall not exceed 15 fish in the combined waters of Lake Michigan, Calumet River, and Chicago River including its North Branch, South Branch and the North Shore Channel.

 

7)         It shall be illegal to possess trout during the period of October 1 to 5 a.m. on the third Saturday in October (both dates inclusive) that were caught during that period.

 

8)         It shall be illegal to possess trout during the period of March 15 to 5 a.m. on the 1st Saturday in April (both dates inclusive) that were caught during that period.

 

9)         Catch and Release Fishing Only means that fish (all identified species) caught must be immediately released alive and in good condition back into the water from which they came.

 

10)       The 48 inch total length limit on pure muskellunge applies to that body of water listed as well as any tailwaters as defined below:

 

Evergreen Lake (McLean County) – including the portion of Six Mile Creek below the Evergreen Lake Dam downstream to its confluence with the Mackinaw River.

 

Fox Chain O’Lakes (Lake/McHenry Counties) – including the Fox River south of the Wisconsin-Illinois boundary to the Algonquin Dam and the Nippersink Creek upstream to the Wilmot Road Bridge.

 

Kinkaid Lake (Jackson County) – including the portion of Kinkaid Creek below the Kinkaid Lake Dam downstream to the Route 149 Bridge.

 

Lake Shelbyville (Moultrie/Shelby Counties) – including the portion of the Kaskaskia River below the Lake Shelbyville Dam downstream to the State Route 128 Road Bridge near Cowden.

 

Otter Lake (Macoupin County) – including the portion of Otter Creek below Otter Lake Dam downstream to its confluence with East Otter Creek.

 

Pierce Lake (Winnebago County) – including the portion of Willow Creek below the Pierce Lake Dam downstream to Forest Hills Road

 

11)       It shall be unlawful to enter upon a designated duck hunting area between sunset of the Sunday immediately preceding opening day of regular duck season through the day before regular duck season and Canada goose season as posted at the site, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck season except in areas posted as open to fishing.  It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from two weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.

 

12)       It shall be unlawful to trespass upon a designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open to fishing.  It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.

 

13)       It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl hunting areas during the 10 days prior to the start of the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck season except in areas posted as open to fishing.  It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 10 days prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.

 

e)         Fishing regulations, including species of fish, fishing methods and Daily Harvest Limits are listed for each water area.  The numbers in parenthesis refer to the corresponding numbered definitions in subsection (d) of this Section.  If a water area is not listed or if a specific species is not listed, then statewide restrictions apply.  Check the bulletin boards and regulation signs at the specific site for any emergency changes to regulations.

 

Aledo City Lake, City of Aledo

Mercer County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Altamont New City Reservoir, City of Altamont

Effingham County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Fulton County

 

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Largemouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

Andover Lake, Village of Andover

Henry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Anna City Lake, City of Anna

Union County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

8" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Apple River (within Apple River Canyon State Park and Satellite Boundaries), State of Illinois

Jo Daviess County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8).  Early season Catch and Release Fishing permitted. (9)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7).  Early season Catch and Release Fishing permitted. (9)

 

Argyle Lake, Argyle Lake State Park

McDonough County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Hybrid Walleye

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥14" and <18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Arrowhead Heights Lake, Village of Camp Point

Adams County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Arrowhead Lake, City of Johnston City

Williamson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 12"

 

 

 

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

Ashland Old Reservoir, City of Ashland

Morgan County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Ashland New Reservoir, City of Ashland

Morgan County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Auburn Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bakers Lake, City of Peru

LaSalle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Baldwin Lake, Baldwin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest

 

Banana Lake, Lake County Forest Preserve District

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Banner Marsh Lakes & Ponds, Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area

Peoria/Fulton Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge and Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fisherman may harvest carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears from May 1 through August 31

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

 

 

 

Batchtown State Wildlife Management Area

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Baumann Park Lake, City of Cherry Valley

Winnebago County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park

Wabash County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Beaver Dam Lake, Beaver Dam State Park

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Beck Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Belk Park Pond, City of Wood River

Madison County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Belvidere Ponds, City of Belvidere

Boone County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bevier Park Lagoon, Waukegan Park District

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bird Park Quarry, City of Kankakee

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

 

 

Blandinsville North and South Lakes, Village of Blandinsville

McDonough County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish ˂ 12"

 

 

Bloomington Park District Lakes (Anglers Lake, Holiday Lake, Tipton Lake and White Oaks Lake, [except Miller Park Lake, see individual listing]), City of Bloomington

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Blue Pond, Boone County Conservation District

Boone County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bonfield Ponds, Village of Bonfield

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" or < 15"

 

 

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15"

 

 

 

 

Borah Lake, City of Olney

Richland County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Bowen Lake, City of Washington

Tazewell County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Boyd-Wesley Park Pond, Village of Towanda

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Braidwood Lake, Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area

Will County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Braidwood Lake is closed to all fishing and boat traffic, except for legal waterfowl hunters, from 10 days prior to duck season through the day before duck season and is closed to all fishing during waterfowl season commencing with regular duck season through the close of the Canada goose and regular duck season (13)

 

 

●

Fishing tournaments prohibited from July 1 through August 31 (both dates inclusive)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

Breese Jaycee Park Pond, City of Breese

Clinton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Brock Lake, City of Mackinaw

Tazewell County

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 12"

 

Buckner City Reservoir, City of Buckner

Franklin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Buffalo Prairie State Pheasant Habitat Area Lakes and Ponds (Buffalo Lake South, Buffalo Lake North, Buffalo Pond Northwest, Buffalo Wetland) State of Illinois

Knox County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 14" and <18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with 1 Fish ≥ 36" and < 42" or 1 Fish ≥ 48"

 

Walleye, Sauger or Hybrid Walleye

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Bullfrog Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bunker Hill Lake, City of Bunker Hill

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area – All lakes and ponds

Jackson County

 

Recreation Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (all use other than waterfowl hunting prohibited from November 1 through the last day in February)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 5 Fish < 14"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Burrell Woods Park Pond, City of Carmi

White County

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Busse Lake (including Busse Lake Spillway and Salt Creek downstream to Arlington Heights Road), Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Cache River State Natural Area

Pulaski/Johnson Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

 

●

No fishing in Nature Preserves – Section 8 Woods, Heron Pond/Little Black Slough

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

No Seines

 

Calhoun Point State Wildlife Management Area

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Calumet River

Cook County

 

Yellow Perch

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit (6)

 

 

●

Closed May 1 through June 15

 

Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area

Jackson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Campus Lake – Southern Illinois University, State of Illinois

Jackson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Campus Pond – Eastern Illinois University, State of Illinois

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Canton Lake, City of Canton

Fulton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel or Blue Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

Carbondale City Reservoir, City of Carbondale

Jackson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Carlinville Lake #1, City of Carlinville

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Carlinville Lake #2, City of Carlinville

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Carlyle Lake, (including its tributary streams and those portions of the Kaskaskia River and Hurricane Creek up to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project boundaries).  Does not include the tailwaters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Clinton/Bond/Fayette Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Carlyle Lake Tailwaters (Kaskaskia River between U.S. Route 50 and the Carlyle Lake dam and spillway), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Clinton County

 

All Fish

●

Sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, cast net or shad scoop for bait collecting between U.S. Route 50 and the Carlyle Lake dam and spillway.

 

 

 

Carthage Lake, City of Carthage

Hancock County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Casey Park Pond, City of Casey

Clark County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Cedar Lake and Little Cedar Lake, U.S. Forest Service and City of Carbondale

Jackson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 5 Fish < 14"

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Centennial Park Pond, Coloma Township Park District

Whiteside County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Centralia Foundation Park Catfish Pond, Centralia Foundation

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Centralia Lake, City of Centralia

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Cermack Quarry, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Champaign Park District Lakes (Kaufman Lake, Heritage Park Pond, Porter Lake and Mattis Lake), Champaign Park District

Champaign County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout (Kaufman Lake)

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Charleston Lower Channel Lake, City of Charleston

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2) (5)

 

Charleston Side Channel Lake, City of Charleston

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish < 10"and 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 10"

 

Charlie Brown Lake & Pond, City of Flora

Clay County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Charter Oak North – Peoria Park District Lake, Peoria Park District

Peoria County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Charter Oak South – Peoria Park District Pond, Peoria Park District

Peoria County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Chautauqua Lake North and South Pools, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Mason County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Lake Chautauqua North and South Pools will be closed to boat fishing from October 6 through January 31

 

 

●

Bank fishing will be allowed in selected areas only

 

 

●

Ice fishing will be allowed following the February 1 reopening

 

Largemouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Chenoa City Lake, City of Chenoa

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Chicago River (including its North Branch, South Branch, and the North Shore Channel)

Cook County

 

Yellow Perch

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit (6)

 

 

●

Closed May 1 through June 15

 

Chillicothe Park District Ponds, Chillicothe Park District

Peoria County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Christopher Old City Lake, City of Christopher

Franklin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Citizen's Lake, City of Monmouth

Warren County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 5 Fish < 12"

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Clear Lake, Kickapoo State Recreation Area

Vermilion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 15"

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Clinton Lake (including Clinton Lake Spillway and Salt Creek downstream to the Route 10 Bridge), Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

DeWitt County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen shall be allowed to use trotlines, jugs, and bank poles in the portions of the lake that lie north of the Route 54 Railroad Bridge and northeast of the Route 48 Bridge

 

 

●

All jugs must be attended at all times (3)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers and buffalo by bow and arrow, bow and arrow devices, gigs and spears on the entire lake, but not within 150 feet of any boat ramp, dock, beach or other developed recreation areas

 

Blue or Channel Catfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10" and 5 Fish < 10"

 

Coal Miner's Park Pond, City of Spring Valley

Bureau County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Coffeen Lake, Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Montgomery County

 

All Fish

●

All jugs must be attended at all times (3)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Coffeen Upland Management Pond, Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Montgomery County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Coles County Airport Lake, Coles County Airport

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 2 Fish < 14"

 

Columbus Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Commissioners Park Pond, Alsip Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Conservation World Ponds, Illinois State Fairgrounds

Sangamon County

Fishing by special permit only for senior groups, children's groups or group guests of the Director.  Apply for permit by writing to: Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702

 

Cook Co. Forest Preserve District Lakes (except Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Bullfrog, Busse, Cermak, Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Sag Quarry East, Schiller Pond, Skokie Lagoons, Tampier and Wampum lakes, see individual listings), Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Coulterville Reservoir, Village of Coulterville

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – Crab Orchard Lake, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

West of Wolf Creek Road, fishing from boats is permitted all year.  East of Wolf Creek Road, fishing from boats is permitted from March 15 through September 30.  Fishing from the bank is permitted all year only at the Wolf Creek and Route 148 causeways.

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen shall be allowed to use trotlines, jugs, and by hand, except that sport fishermen may not submerge any pole or similar object to take or locate any fish and the use and aid of underwater breathing devices is prohibited.

 

 

●

Trotlines/jugs must be removed from sunrise until sunset from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  On the entire lake, jugs and trotlines must be checked daily and must be removed on the last day they are used.  It is illegal to use stakes to anchor any trotlines; they must be anchored only with portable weights and must be removed on the last day they are used.

 

 

●

The taking of carp, carpsuckers, shad, drum, buffalo, gar, bowfin and suckers with spear, gig, bow and arrow or archery device is permissible.

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – Devil's Kitchen Lake, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – Honker’s Pond, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Fishing is permitted year-round from sunrise to sunset only

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – Little Grassy Lake, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge − Restricted Use Area Ponds, except Honker’s and Visitor’s Ponds, see individual listings), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Fishing is permitted from March 1 through October 15, both dates inclusive, from sunrise to sunset

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – Visitor’s Pond, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Fishing is permitted year-round from sunrise to sunset only

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – All Other Ponds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Williamson County

 

All Fish

●

All Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area Ponds, Crawford County

State Fish and Wildlife Area

Crawford County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout (Picnic Pond)

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Crull Impoundment State Wildlife Management Area

Jersey County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Crystal Lake, Urbana Park District

Champaign County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge − All Ponds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Johnson/Pulaski/Union Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge − Cache River, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Johnson/Pulaski Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

No Seines

 

Dawson Lake & Park Ponds, Moraine View State Recreation Area

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp from boat by bow and arrow and bow and arrow devices, but not within 150 feet of any developed recreation areas

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 15"

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 20"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Decatur Park District Ponds (except Fairview Park – Dreamland Pond and Sportsmans Club Pond, see individual listings), Decatur Park District

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Defiance Lake, Moraine Hills State Park

McHenry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Des Plaines River Basin (former Hoffman Dam site to 47th Street Bridge, including tributaries)

Cook County

 

Channel Catfish

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Catch and Release Only (9)

 

Northern Pike

●

30" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Diamond Lake, Mundelein Park District

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Dieterich Park Pond, Village of Dieterich

Effingham County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Dolan Lake, Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Hamilton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Dongola City Reservoir, Village of Dongola

Union County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area

Bureau County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Double "T" State Fish and Wildlife Area, State of Illinois

Fulton County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (all use other than waterfowl hunting is prohibited from October 1 through the end of the central zone Canada goose season)

 

 

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Blue or Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

21" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Douglas Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

DuPage County Forest Preserve District Lakes and Ponds, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

DuPage County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 3 Fish < 14"

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout (Silver Lake)

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Yellow Perch

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

DuPage River – West Branch (between the former dam sites located in the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve and the Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve)

DuPage County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

DuQuoin City Lake, City of DuQuoin

Perry County

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

DuQuoin State Fairgrounds – All Lakes and Ponds

Perry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

 

 

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

East Fork Lake, City of Olney

Richland County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Ed Madigan State Park Pond

Logan County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (See Also Carlyle Lake)

Clinton County

 

Elliott Lake, Wheaton Park District

DuPage County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Natural Area

Lawrence County

 

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

 

 

Emiquon Preserve − Thompson Lake

Fulton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill, Redear, Pumpkinseed, Green, Orange spotted Sunfish or Hybrid Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

 

Evergreen Lake, City of Bloomington

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit (10)

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Fairgrounds Pond – Fort Massac State Park, State of Illinois

Massac County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Fairview Park – Dreamland Pond, Decatur Park District

Macon County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Only youth under 16 years of age permitted to fish, or persons participating in a Decatur Park District or Illinois Department of Natural Resources sponsored fishing programs

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Ferne Clyffe Lake, Ferne Clyffe State Park

Johnson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Flatfoot Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Fletcher Park Pond, City of Mt. Zion

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Foli Park Pond, Village of Plano

Kendall County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Forbes Lake, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area (including Forbes Lake tailwaters and that portion of Lost Fork Creek within Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area)

Marion County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black or Hybrid Crappie

●

No Daily Harvest Limit for Fish < 8" and 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 8"

 

Forbes State Recreation Area Ponds, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout (Boston Pond)

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Forest Park Lagoon, City of Shelbyville

Shelby County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Four Lakes, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County

Winnebago County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Fox Chain O'Lakes (including the Fox River south of the Wisconsin-Illinois boundary to the Algonquin Dam and the Nippersink Creek upstream to the Wilmot Road Bridge), State of Illinois

Lake and McHenry Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) on State Park property bordering the Fox River and Grass Lake

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Flathead Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 28" and 2 Fish < 28"

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit of which no more than 3 can be Smallmouth Bass

 

 

 

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit (10)

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

All Fish must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15

 

 

 

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 18" and <24"

 

 

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 24"

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, State of Illinois

Richland and Wayne Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (see individual listings for Hurricane Pond, Wilderness Pond and Ridge Lake)

Coles County

 

Fox River (Algonquin Dam to confluence with the Illinois River, including tributaries), State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Flathead Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 28" and 2 Fish < 28"

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 12" and 2 Fish < 12"

 

Fox River (at Moraine Hills State Park and Dam and on Bolger Lock and Dam Properties), State of Illinois

McHenry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Fox River Marina, Lake County Forest Preserve

Lake County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Bank Fishing Only (in areas designed by Lake County Forest Preserve District)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Bullfrogs may not be taken by hand, gig, pitchfork, spear, landing net or hook and line

 

Fox Valley Park District Lakes and Ponds (excluding Lake Gregory and Jericho Lake, see individual listing for Jericho Lake), Fox Valley Park District

Kane and DuPage Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Frank Holten Lakes, Frank Holten State Park

St. Clair County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Franklin Creek (within the boundaries of Franklin Creek State Natural Area)

Lee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Franklin Creek Mill Pond − Franklin Creek State Park

Lee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Fuller Lake, State of Illinois

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Fulton County Camping and Recreation Area Waters, Fulton County Board

Fulton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

 

 

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

Gages Lake, Wildwood Park District

Lake County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Garfield Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Gebhard Woods Pond, Gebhard Woods State Park

Grundy County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Germantown Lake, Village of Germantown

Clinton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Giant City Park Ponds, Giant City State Park

Jackson and Union Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth and Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Gillespie New City Lake, City of Gillespie

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Gillespie Old City Lake, City of Gillespie

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Glades − 12 Mile Island Wildlife Management Area

Jersey County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Gladstone Lake, Henderson County State Conservation Area

Henderson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Blue or Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 12"

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Glen O Jones Lake Trout Pond, Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Saline County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Glen O Jones State Lake, Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Saline County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 5 Fish < 14"

 

Glen Oak Lagoon, Peoria Park District

Peoria County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Glen Shoals Lake, City of Hillsboro

Montgomery County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Godar-Diamond/Hurricane Island Wildlife Management Area

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Gompers Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Gordon F. Moore Park Lake, City of Alton

Madison County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Governor Bond Lake, City of Greenville

Bond County

 

All Fish

●

All jugs must be attended at all times (3)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Grayslake Park District (Grayslake and Park Ponds), City of Grayslake

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Green Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)(2)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Greenfield City Lake, City of Greenfield

Greene County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ to 15" and 5 Fish < 12"

 

Hanover Lake – Apple River Canyon State Park, State of Illinois

Jo Daviess County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Harrisburg New City Reservoir, City of Harrisburg

Saline County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Heidecke Lake, Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Grundy County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (13)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 2 Fish < 12"

 

 

 

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Heiland Lakes, Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve District

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

 

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15"

 

Helmbold Slough, State of Illinois

Calhoun County

 

Recreational use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Henderson Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

Henderson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Hennepin Canal – Mainline & Feeder, Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park

Multiple Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Jug fishing is permitted from sunset to sunrise and carp and buffalo may be taken by bow and arrow devices from May 1 through September 30.  All jugs must have owner’s/user’s name and complete address affixed.

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Hennepin-Hopper Lakes, The Wetlands Initiative

Putnam County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait greater than 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

 

Heritage Quarries (Great Lakes Quarry and Consumers Quarry), City of Lemont

Will County

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Herrin Lake #1, City of Herrin

Williamson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Heyworth Centennial Lake, City of Heyworth

McLean County

 

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Hidden Springs State Forest Ponds, Hidden Springs State Forest

Shelby County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Highland Old City Lake, City of Highland

Madison County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Hillsboro Old City Lake, City of Hillsboro

Montgomery County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Homer Guthrie Pond – Eldon Hazlet State Park

Clinton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Homer Lake, Champaign County Forest Preserve District

Champaign County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Hormel Pond, Donnelley/DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area

Bureau County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Horseshoe Lake − Alexander Co., Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Alexander County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Only trolling motors in refuge from October 15-March 1

 

 

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Horseshoe Lake − Madison County, Horseshoe Lake State Park

Madison County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

Trotlines must be set within 300 feet from shore

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Horsetail Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Horton Lake, Nauvoo State Park

Hancock County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

Humbolt Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Hurricane Pond, Fox Ridge State Park

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Illinois & Michigan Canal, State of Illinois

Grundy/LaSalle/ Will Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Illinois Beach State Park Ponds (except Sand Pond, see individual listing), Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Illinois Department of Transportation Lake, State of Illinois

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing is permitted (9)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing is permitted (9)

 

Illinois River – Pool 26

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Illinois River − Starved Rock Pool

LaSalle and Grundy Counties

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Illinois River – State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Indian Boundary South Pond, Frankfort Square Park District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Iroquois & Kankakee Rivers and their Tributaries, State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrid Walleye

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish > 18"

 

Island Pond, Boone County Conservation District

Boone County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Jackson Park (Columbia Basin) Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Jericho Lake, Fox Valley Park District

Kane County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, All Lakes and Ponds (except Drake Lake and Gridley Road Lake, see individual listings), Jim Edgar/Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area

Cass County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait ≥ 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area − Drake Lake, Jim Edgar/Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area

Cass County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area – Gridley Road Lake, Jim Edgar/Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area

Cass County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

Johnson-Sauk Trail Lake & Pond, Johnson Sauk Trail State Recreation Area

Henry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Jones Park Lake, City of East St. Louis

St. Clair County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Jubilee College State Park Pond, Jubilee College State Park

Peoria County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

 

Kane County Forest Preserve District Lakes and Ponds, Kane County Forest Preserve District

Kane County

 

Bluegill

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 fish > 18" and 3 fish < 14"

 

Northern Pike

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Kankakee-Iroquois Rivers and their Tributaries, State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrid Walleye

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18"

 

Kankakee River, (from the Kankakee Dam to the Wilmington Dam on the Kankakee River, including tributaries), State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 2 Fish < 12

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area – Doza Creek Wildlife Management Area

St. Clair County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Kendall Co. Lake #1, Kendall County Forest Preserve District

Kendall County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Kent Creek. State of Illinois

Winnebago County

 

Trout

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

Kickapoo State Park Lakes & Ponds (except Clear Lake, see individual listing), Kickapoo State Recreation Area

Vermilion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 15"

 

Kincaid City Lake, City of Kincaid

Christian County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

King Park Lagoon, City of Pittsfield

Pike County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Kinkaid Lake, Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Jackson County

 

All Fish

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

 

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit (10)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Kinmundy City Lake, City of Kinmundy

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Kinmundy Reservoir, City of Kinmundy

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Kishwaukee River and South Branch of Kishwaukee River and Tributaries, State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Lake Atwood, McHenry County Conservation District

McHenry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Lake Bloomington, City of Bloomington

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Lake Carlton, Morrison-Rockwood State Park

Whiteside County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Carlton Silt Basin, State of Illinois

Whiteside County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

8" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

Lake Chaminwood, Will County Forest Preserve District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake County Forest Preserve District Lakes (excluding Independence Grove Lake, Banana Lake, and Sterling Lake, see individual listings for Banana Lake and Sterling Lake), Lake County Forest Preserve District

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

Lake Decatur (including all boundaries within the City of Decatur, from the dam to the Sangamon River at Macon County Highway 25 (North Oakley Road) and the area west of Baltimore Ave., does not include the tailwater), City of Decatur

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

 

●

Bullfrogs may not be taken by spear

 

 

●

Carp, buffalo, suckers and carpsuckers may be taken by means of pitchfork and gigs (no bow and arrow devices)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake DePue Fish and Wildlife Area

Bureau County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Lake Eureka, City of Eureka

Woodford County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake George, Loud Thunder Forest Preserve

Rock Island County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Jacksonville, City of Jacksonville

Morgan County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Carp, buffalo, suckers and carpsuckers may be taken by means of pitchfork and gigs (no bow and arrow devices)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 14" and < 18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Lake Ka-Ho (Lakes 1, 2 and 3), Village of Lake Ka-Ho

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Kakusha, City of Mendota

LaSalle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Le-Aqua-Na Kids Only Fishing Pond, Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

Stephenson County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Only youth under 16 years of age permitted to fish

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Hybrid Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

1 Fish daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Le-Aqua-Na, Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

Stephenson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Loami, City of Loami

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Lake Lou Yaeger, City of Litchfield

 

 

Montgomery County

 

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Mattoon, City of Mattoon

Coles/Cumberland/Shelby Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

 

Lake Mendota, City of Mendota

LaSalle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 < 12"

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Lake Michigan (Illinois Portion), State of Illinois

Lake/Cook Counties

 

Recreational Use Restriction

●

All devices used for sport fishing on Lake Michigan must be attended at all times

 

Lake Trout

●

2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Whitefish or Round Whitefish

●

12 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

21" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout and Salmon

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, except for Lake Trout

 

Yellow Perch

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit (6)

 

 

●

Closed May 1 through June 15

 

Lake Milliken, Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Lake Mingo & Kennekuk Cove Park Ponds, Vermilion County Conservation District

Vermilion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp from boat by bow and arrow and bow and arrow devices, but not within 150 feet of any developed recreation areas

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish > 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 15"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Murphysboro, Lake Murphysboro State Park

Jackson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Nellie, City of St. Elmo

Fayette County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake of the Woods & Elk's Pond, Champaign County Forest Preserve District

Champaign County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

No Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ˂ 7" and 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 7"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Lake Owen, Hazel Crest Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Paradise, City of Mattoon

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Lake Sara, City of Effingham

Effingham County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 15" and <18"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Shelbyville (including its tributary streams and those portions of the West Okaw and Kaskaskia Rivers to the extent of the Lake Shelbyville Project boundaries – including parts of the Lake Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area, except Project Ponds, see individual listing), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Moultrie/Shelby Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

During the regular waterfowl season, no bank or boat fishing shall be permitted on the Kaskaskia River from the Strickland Boat Access north to the Illinois Central Railroad Bridge from one-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.

 

 

All Fish

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit (10)

 

Striped Bass

●

32" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10" and 5 Fish < 10"

 

Lake Shelbyville – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Ponds (except Woods Lake, see individual listing), and Lake Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area Ponds

Moultrie/Shelby Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 5 Fish ≥ 10" and 5 Fish < 10"

 

Lake Shermerville, Northbrook Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Sinnissippi, State of Illinois

Whiteside County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Lake Springfield, City of Springfield

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Storey, City of Galesburg

Knox County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Blue or Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Bluegill, or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and <18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Strini, Village of Romeoville

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Lake Sule, Flagg-Rochelle Park District

Ogle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Taylorville, City of Taylorville

Christian County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Lake Vermilion, Vermilion County Conservation District

Vermilion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin, and suckers by pitchfork, gigs, bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices north of Boiling Springs Road, but not within 300 feet around the wetland boardwalk.

 

 

●

Trotline and jug fishing allowed north of Boiling Springs Road

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit 

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length

 

 

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Victoria, City of South Beloit

Winnebago County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lake Williamsville, Village of Williamsville

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lakewood Park, Morton Park District

Tazewell County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

LaSalle Cooling Lake, LaSalle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

LaSalle County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl refuge or hunting area; site regulations apply

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

 

Levings Lake, Rockford Park District

Winnebago County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lincoln Log Cabin Pond, Lincoln Log Cabin Historical Site

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Lincoln Park North Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

Recreational Use Restriction

●

Closed to Fishing

 

Lincoln Park South Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

Recreational Use Restriction

●

Closed to Fishing

 

Lincoln Trail Lake, Lincoln Trail State Park

Clark County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 9"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish > 14" and < 18"

 

 

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Litchfield City Lake, City of Litchfield

Montgomery County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 15"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Little Casters Pond, Boone County Conservation District

Boone County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Mackinaw Ponds 1 and 2, Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area

Tazewell County

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Macon County Conservation District Ponds (except Rock Springs Pond and Rock Springs Bike Trail Pond, see individual listings), Macon County Conservation District

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Maple Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Marine Heritage Lake, Village of Marine

Madison County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Marissa City Lake, City of Marissa

St. Clair County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Marquette Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Marshall County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Fishing Ditch), Marshall County State Fish and Wildlife Area

Marshall County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Marshall County State Fish and Wildlife Area – Sparland Unit

Marshall County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Mascoutah Reservoir, City of Mascoutah

St. Clair County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Matthiessen Lake, Matthiessen State Park

LaSalle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area

Bureau County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may harvest carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears from May 1 through August 31

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Mauvaise Terre/Morgan Lake, City of Jacksonville

Morgan County

 

All Fish

·

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

Mazonia Lakes & Ponds (except Monster Lake and Ponderosa Lake, see individual listings), Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area

Grundy/Kankakee/Will Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

McCullom Lake, City of McHenry

McHenry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

McKinley Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

McLeansboro City Lakes, City of McLeansboro

Hamilton County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Mechanicsburg Park Pond, City of Mechanicsburg

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Meredosia Lake – Cass County Portion Only (meandered waters only)

Cass County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

 

●

All boat traffic is prohibited from operating on meandered waters (except non-motorized boats may be used to assist in the retrieval of waterfowl shot from private land) from the period from one week before waterfowl season opens until the season closes; hunting and/or any other activity is prohibited during the period from one week before waterfowl season opens until the season closes

 

Mermet State Lake, Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Massac County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Middle Fork Forest Preserve Ponds, (Emerald Pond, Cypress Pond, and Willow Pond), Champaign County Forest Preserve District

Champaign County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, Kickapoo State Recreation Area and Middle Fork Fish and Wildlife Area

Vermilion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Mill Creek Lake, Clark County Park District

Clark County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 4 Fish < 15"

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 2 Fish ≥ 12"

 

Mill Race Ponds, Belvidere Park District

Boone County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Miller Park Lake, Bloomington Park District

McLean County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Mineral Springs Park Lagoon, City of Pekin

Tazewell County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24

Multiple Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26

Multiple Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Mississippi River (between IL & IA), State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Spring Lake in Carroll County is closed to fishing during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season and during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open to fishing

 

All Fish

●

Maximum treble hook size is 5/0; gaffs may not be used to land paddlefish

 

 

●

Sport fishermen must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures while trolling

 

Bluegill or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Northern Pike

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Paddlefish

●

Snagging for paddlefish is permitted from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa; Daily Harvest Limit is 2 fish; the maximum length limit for paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33" eye-to-fork length (all paddlefish ≥ to 33" must be immediately released back to the Mississippi River); no sorting allowed; once the daily limit of paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease

 

Rock Bass

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, Yellow or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

Statewide regulation limiting Daily Harvest to 3 fish ≥ 17" is not in effect on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 20" and < 27"

 

Walleye or Sauger

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 27" in total length

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Yellow Perch

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Mississippi River (between IL & MO), State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Boating prohibited on refuge area (Ellis Bay) immediately upstream of Melvin Price Lock and Dam 26 overflow dike from October 15-April 15

 

All Nongame Species Combined

(Excludes endangered and threatened species and the following game species: Crappie, Channel/Blue/Flathead Catfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth, White/Yellow/Striped/Hybrid Striped Bass, Trout, Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted Bass, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Chain/Grass Pickerel, Walleye, Sauger, Paddlefish)

●

100 Total Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Blue or Channel Catfish

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Flathead Catfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth, or Spotted Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Northern Pike

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Paddlefish

●

24" Eye-to-Fork Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

Snagging for paddlefish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks (Madison County) where no snagging is permitted; Daily Harvest Limit is 2 fish; sorting is permitted; every paddlefish ≥ 24" in eye-to-fork length must be taken into immediate possession and included in the Daily Harvest Limit; paddlefish < 24" eye to fork length must be returned immediately to the water; once the daily limit of paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease

 

Striped, White, Yellow or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

Statewide regulation limiting daily harvest to 3 fish ≥ 17" is not in effect on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri

 

 

●

30 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye or Sauger

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

30 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Monee Reservoir, Will County Forest Preserve District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Monster Lake, Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 18" and < 24"

 

 

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 24"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Montrose Lake, City of Montrose

Cumberland County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Mt. Olive City Lakes (Old and New), City of Mt. Olive

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Mt. Pulaski Park District Lake, Mt. Pulaski Park District

Logan County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Mt. Sterling Lake, City of Mt. Sterling

Brown County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥12" and < 15"

 

Mt. Vernon City Park Lake, City of Mt. Vernon

Jefferson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Mt. Vernon Game Farm Pond, Mt. Vernon Game Farm

Jefferson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Mundelein Park District Ponds, City of Mundelein

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Nashville City Reservoir, City of Nashville

Washington County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Newton Lake, Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Jasper County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

The cold water (East) arm of Newton Lake shall be closed daily from one-half hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m. to all fishing and boat traffic except for legal waterfowl hunters commencing with regular duck season through the close of the Canada goose and regular duck season

 

 

 

 

●

Lake closed to fishing during first and second firearm deer seasons

 

 

●

Fishing tournaments prohibited from June 1 through August 31 (both dates inclusive)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Norris City Reservoir, City of Norris City

White County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Oakland City Lake, City of Oakland

 

Coles County

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

Oblong Lake, Village of Oblong

 

Crawford County

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

Ohio River (between IL & KY), State of Illinois

 

Multiple Counties

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

Striped, White, Yellow or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

30 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 4 Fish ≥ 15"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

30 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

Ohio River (between IL & KY) and Wabash River (between IL and IN), Multiple Counties State of Illinois

 

 

Blue or Flathead Catfish

●

13" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

No Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 13" and < 35"

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 35

 

Channel Catfish

●

13” Minimum Length Limit

 

●

No Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 13" and ˂ 28"

 

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish > 28"

 

 

 

Ohio River – Smithland Pool Tributary Streams (in Pope/Hardin/Gallatin Counties, excluding Wabash River and Saline River Above Route 1 Bridge)

 

Multiple Counties

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

Olson Lake, Rock Cut State Park

 

Winnebago County

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

Omaha City Reservoir, Village of Omaha

 

Gallatin County

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

Omaha Township Reservoir, Omaha Township

 

Gallatin County

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

Opeka Lake, Des Plaines Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, or Hybrid Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Otter Lake, Otter Lake Water Commission

 

Macoupin County

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit (10)

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

 

Palmisano Pond (Stearns Park Quarry), Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

Palmyra – Modesto Water Commission Lake, Palmyra/Modesto Water Commission

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pana Lake, City of Pana

Shelby and Christian Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Paris East & West Lakes, City of Paris

Edgar County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Patriot’s Park Lake (Greenville Old City Lake), Kingsbury Park District

Bond County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Peabody River King, Pit #3 Lakes and Ponds, Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (except Willow Lake, see individual listing)

St Clair County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pecatonica River and Tributaries, State of Illinois

Winnebago/Stephenson Counties

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Perry Farm Pond, Bourbonnais Park District

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Piasa, State of Illinois

Madison/Jersey Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Pierce Lake, Rock Cut State Park

Winnebago County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears during May and June

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit (10)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pinckneyville City Lake, City of Pinckneyville

Perry County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pine Creek (within the boundaries of White Pines Forest State Park)

Ogle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

Pine Lake, Village of University Park

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Piscasaw Creek

McHenry County

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Pittsfield Lake, City of Pittsfield

Pike County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears during May and June

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pittsfield Lake Ball Park Pond, City of Pittsfield

Pike County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pocahontas Park Ponds, City of Pocahontas

Bond County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Ponderosa Lake, Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area

Kankakee County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Powerton Lake, Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Tazewell County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Powerton Lake shall be closed to boat traffic except for legal waterfowl hunters from one week prior to regular waterfowl season to February 15, and closed to all unauthorized entry during regular Canada goose and duck season

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Blue, Channel or Flathead Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 fish ≥ 35"

 

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Prospect Park Pond, City of Moline

Rock Island County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Pyramid State Recreation Area – Blue Wing Lake, Green Wing Lake, Goldeneye Lake and Mallard Lake, Pyramid State Recreation Area

Perry County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Hunting Area (from November 1 through the last day in February, fishing is permitted in designated areas only, and fishing hours are from ½ hour before sunrise to 2 p.m.)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pyramid State Recreation Area – Captain, Denmark, Galum and East Conant Areas – All Lakes and Ponds (except Blue Wing Lake, Green Wing Lake, Goldeneye Lake and Mallard Lake, see individual listings), Pyramid State Recreation Area

Perry County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (all use other than waterfowl hunting prohibited from November 1 through the last day in February)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pyramid State Recreation Area Lakes & Ponds (excluding Captain, Denmark, Galum and East Conant Areas, see individual listings), Pyramid State Recreation Area

Perry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Raccoon Lake, City of Centralia

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Ramsey Lake, Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

Fayette County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area Ponds, Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

Fayette County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Randolph County Lake, Randolph County State Recreation Area

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Red Hills Lake, Red Hills State Park

Lawrence County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Red's Landing Wildlife Management Area

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

 

●

Access to walk-in area closed 7 days prior to duck season

 

Redwing Slough/Deer Lake

Lake County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Rend Lake (including its tributary streams and those portions of the Big Muddy and Casey Fork Rivers up to the Rend Lake Project boundaries, does not include tailwaters, except Rend Lake Project Ponds, see individual listing), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Franklin and Jefferson Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Channel Catfish

●

All jugs must be attended at all times (3)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, Yellow or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish ≥ 17"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Rend Lake Project Ponds (Jackie Branch Pond, Ina N. Borrow Pit, Green Heron Pond, North Marcum Campground Pond and Catfish Cove Pond), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Franklin and Jefferson Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Rend Lake Tailwaters (Big Muddy River within 1000 yards downstream of the Rend Lake Dam and Spillway), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Franklin County

 

All Fish

●

Sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting

Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Fulton County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

Sport fishermen may harvest carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears from May 1 through August 31

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Ridge Lake, Fox Ridge State Park

Coles County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Bank fishing is prohibited.  Boat fishing is permitted May 1 through August 31 during the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  See site for additional regulations and exact opening and closing dates.

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Riis Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Riprap Landing, State of Illinois

Calhoun County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

River Bend Forest Preserve Lakes (Sunset Lake and Shadow Lake), Champaign County Forest Preserve District

Champaign County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 15"

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Riverside Park Lagoon, Moline Park District

Rock Island County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Rochester Park Pond, City of Rochester

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Rock Creek, State of Illinois

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

Rock Cut Kids Fishing Pond, Rock Cut State Park

Winnebago County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Only youth under 16 years of age permitted to fish

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Hybrid Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Rock River (from the Sears and Steel Dam downstream to confluence of the Mississippi River), State of Illinois

Rock Island County

 

Walleye

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 20" and < 27"

 

Walleye or Sauger

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 27"

 

 

 

 

Rock River (Wisconsin State Line downstream to confluence of the Mississippi River), including tributaries, State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Rock Springs Bike Trail Pond, Macon County Conservation District

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Roodhouse Park Lake, City of Roodhouse

Greene County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Ross Lake, Walnut Park District

Bureau County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Route 6 Quarries (East and West), Will County Forest Preserve District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Route 154 Day Use Pond, State of Illinois

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)(2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Sahara Woods State Recreation Area, State of Illinois

Saline County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Salem Reservoir, City of Salem

Marion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sam Dale Lake, Sam Dale State Fish and Wildlife Area

Wayne County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sam Dale Trout Pond, Sam Dale State Fish and Wildlife Area

Wayne County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Sam Parr Lake, Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area

Jasper County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sand Pond, Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area

Mason/Cass/Schuyler/Menard Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

 

●

Walk-in only access for bank fishing permitted after 1 p.m. during duck season

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sangchris Lake, Sangchris Lake State Park

Christian/Sangamon Counties

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (13)

 

 

●

Bank fishing along the dam shall be permitted.  Fishing shall be prohibited in the east and west arms of the lake during the period from 10 days prior to the duck season through the end of the duck season.  Fishing shall be prohibited in the west arm of the lake and the east arm of the lake south of the power lines during that portion of the Canada goose season that follows the duck season.

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears (except during waterfowl season) but not within 200 yards of any developed recreational areas

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Schiller Pond, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Schuy-Rush Lake, City of Rushville

Schuyler County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Sesser City Lake, City of Sesser

Franklin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Shabbona Lake, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area

DeKalb County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

No sport fishing below dam to fence

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears, except when closed under site regulations and posted on site.

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest − Lakes and Ponds less than 10 acres, U.S. Forest Service

Multiple Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Bay Creek Lake #5 and #8 (Sugar Creek Lake), U.S. Forest Service

Pope County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Dutchman Lake, U.S. Forest Service

Johnson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Lake Glendale, U.S. Forest Service

Pope County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Little Cache #1, U.S. Forest Service

Johnson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – One Horse Gap Lake, U.S. Forest Service

Pope County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Pounds Hollow Lake, U.S. Forest Service

Gallatin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Tecumseh Lake, U.S. Forest Service

Hardin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Turkey Bayou, U.S. Forest Service

Jackson County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Shawnee National Forest – Whoopie Cat Lake, U.S. Forest Service

Hardin Counties

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sherman Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Siloam Springs Family Fishing Pond, Siloam Springs State Park

Adams County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Siloam Springs Lake, Siloam Springs State Park

Adams County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears during May and June

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

Siloam Springs State Park − Buckhorn Unit Waters, Siloam Springs State Park

Brown County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

8" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Silver Lake, City of Highland

Madison County

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area – Big Lake & Ponds, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area

Kendall County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Skokie Lagoons (including Skokie Lagoons Spillway and Skokie River Downstream to Willow Road), Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area – McMaster Lake & Other Site Waters, State of Illinois

Knox County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (all use other than waterfowl hunting prohibited from 14 days prior to duck season through the end of the central zone Canada goose season)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 14" and < 18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with 1 Fish ≥ 36" and < 42" or 1 fish ≥ 48"

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Southwind Park Pond, Springfield Park District

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Sparta New City Reservoir (North), City of Sparta

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sparta Old City Reservoir (South), City of Sparta

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Sparta "T" Lake, City of Sparta

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

8" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Sparta World Shooting and Recreational Complex − Derby Lake, State of Illinois

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)(5)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Sparta World Shooting and Recreational Complex Lakes (except Derby Lake, see individual listing), State of Illinois

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)(5)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

10" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Sportsmans Club Pond, Decatur Park District

Macon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Spring Grove Hatchery Pond, City of Spring Grove

McHenry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Spring Lake, City of Macomb

McDonough County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Blue or Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Spring Lakes (North & South), Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Tazewell County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 18"

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

42" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10"

 

Spring Pond, Flagg-Rochelle Park District

Ogle County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

St. Anne Village Pond, Village of St. Anne

Kankakee County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Largemouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

Starved Rock State Park

LaSalle County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Staunton City Lake, City of Staunton

Macoupin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Sterling Lake, Lake County Forest Preserve District

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

All live bait > 8" must be rigged with a quick set rig (4)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Pure Muskellunge

●

48" Minimum Length Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

Storm Lake, DeKalb Park District

DeKalb County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Stump Lake State Wildlife Management Area

Jersey County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (11)

 

Tampier Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Taylorville Park District Pond, Taylorville Park District

Christian County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Ten Mile Creek Lakes, Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

Hamilton/Jefferson Counties

 

Recreational Use Restriction

●

Areas designed as waterfowl rest areas are closed to all access during the Canada goose season only

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Three Oaks North and South Lakes, City of Crystal Lake

McHenry County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

 

●

Catch and Release Fishing Only (9)

 

Tilton City Lake, City of Tilton

Vermilion County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Toledo Reservoir, City of Toledo

Cumberland County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 15" and 2 Fish < 12"

 

Tower Lake (St. Elmo South Lake), City of St. Elmo

Fayette County

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Tri-Township Park Pond, City of Troy

Madison County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Turkey Bluff Ponds, State of Illinois

Randolph County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Turner Lake, Chain O'Lakes State Park

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Turtle Lake (East Lake Renwick), Will County Forest Preserve District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Tuscola City Lake, City of Tuscola

Douglas County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area – All lakes and ponds

Union County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

All fishing and boat traffic prohibited from October 15 through the last day of February

 

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

 

Valley Lake, Wildwood Park District

Lake County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Valmeyer Lake, Village of Valmeyer

Monroe County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

 

 

 

Vandalia Lake, City of Vandalia

Fayette County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Van Horn Woods Pond, Plainfield Park District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Vernor Lake, City of Olney

Richland County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Villa Grove East Lake, City of Villa Grove

Douglas County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Villa Grove West Lake, City of Villa Grove

Douglas County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Wabash River (between IL and IN) and Ohio River (between IL & KY), State of Illinois

Multiple Counties

 

Blue or Flathead Catfish

●

13" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

No Daily harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 13" and < 35 “

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 35”

 

Channel Catfish

●

13" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

No Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 13" and ˂ 28"

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit for Fish ≥ 28”

 

Waddams Creek, State of Illinois

Stephenson County

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Walnut Point Lake, Walnut Point State Park

Douglas County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

20 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish ≥ 12" and < 15"

 

Walton Park Lake, City of Litchfield

Montgomery County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Wampum Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2)

 

Bluegill, Redear, or Pumpkinseed Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Washington County Lake, Washington County State Recreation Area

Washington County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 2 Fish < 14"

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

17" Minimum Length Limit

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Washington Park Lagoon, Chicago Park District

Cook County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

4 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Washington Park Pond, Springfield Park District

Sangamon County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Watseka City Ponds (Clements Pond, Kapers Pond and Municipal Center Pond), City of Watseka

Iroquois County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Waverly Lake, City of Waverly

Morgan County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Weinberg-King Ponds, Weinberg-King State Recreation Area

Schuyler County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Weldon Springs Lake, Weldon Springs State Park

DeWitt County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 7"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit no more than 1 Fish ≥ 20"

 

West Frankfort New City Lake, City of West Frankfort

Franklin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

West Frankfort Old City Lake, City of West Frankfort

Franklin County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

West Salem Reservoir, Village of West Salem

Edwards County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Whalon Lake, Forest Preserve District of Will County

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye

●

16" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

White Hall City Lake, City of White Hall

Greene County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (5)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Wilderness Pond, Fox Ridge State Park

Coles County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

18" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

William W. Powers State Recreation Area

Cook County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Willow Lake, Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area

St. Clair County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

 

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

●

Early Season Catch and Release Fishing Permitted (9)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

9" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Wolf Lake, William W. Powers State Recreation Area

Cook County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

14" Minimum Length Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

 

●

Fall Closed Season (7)

 

Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area (Fishing Ditch), Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area

Woodford County

 

Recreational Use Restrictions

●

Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (12)

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

12" Minimum Length Limit

 

Woodlawn Pond, Frankfort Square Park District

Will County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Woods Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Moultrie County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Bluegill or Redear Sunfish

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 Fish ≥ 8"

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 1 Fish ≥ 18" and 2 Fish < 14"

 

Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass

●

Catch and Release Only (9)

 

White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie

●

15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish ≥ 10" and 5 Fish < 10"

 

Wyman Lake, City of Sullivan

Moultrie County

 

All Fish

●

2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)

 

Channel Catfish

●

6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Large or Smallmouth Bass

●

15" Minimum Length Limit

 

 

●

1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

Yellow Creek, State of Illinois

Stephenson County

 

Trout

●

Spring Closed Season (8)

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 15925, effective October 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.50  Bait Fishing

 

a)         Statewide Regulations

 

1)         Aquatic life species found on the Aquatic Life Approved Species list are allowed for use as live bait if purchased from a licensed Illinois Aquatic Life Dealer or Minnow Dealer or so long as the aquatic life species taken are used as bait in the waters where taken.  Species not found on the Aquatic Life Approved Species list may be used as DEAD bait on the waters where taken.

 

2)         Legal sized cast nets, shad scoops, and minnow seines may be used to obtain shad, minnows and crayfish to use as bait, provided that they are not sold or bartered. All cast nets shall be not larger than 24 feet in diameter or of a mesh size not larger than 1 inch bar measurement. All shad scoops shall be not larger than 30 inches in diameter or of a mesh size not larger than ½ inch bar measurement or longer than 4 feet in length. Minnow seines shall not be longer than 20 feet, deeper than 6 feet or contain mesh size larger than ½ inch bar measurement.

 

3)         Minnows and crayfish may be collected with traps of metal screen or hardware cloth, plastic, or nylon mesh or netting.  Such traps may not be more than 24 inches in width or diameter or more than 36 inches in length nor use a mesh of more than ½ inch bar measurement.  Each entrance aperture may not exceed 1.5 inches in diameter. If unattended, such devices must be tagged with the name, mailing address and phone number of the person operating the device. Minnows and crayfish collected in such devices may only be taken for personal use and may not be sold or bartered.

 

4)         Aquatic life protected under 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1010 – Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Fauna may not be taken for any purpose including bait fishing.

 

5)         Injurious Species: The use of live injurious species (as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 805) as bait is prohibited.  Possession of live specimens, progeny thereof, viable eggs, or gametes is prohibited.

 

6)         Collected live bait, including crayfish, shall not be transported between water bodies.  Bait shall not be transported from spillway tailwaters to the impounded lake.

 

b)         Site Specific Regulations

None.

 

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 3399, effective February 27, 2019)

 

Section 810.60  Bullfrogs (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 21 Ill. Reg. 4709, effective April 1, 1997)

 

Section 810.70  Free Fishing Days

 

During the period of June 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2024, it shall be legal for any person to fish in waters wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State, including the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan, without possessing a sport fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 15925, effective October 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.80  Emergency Protective Procedures

 

a)         Emergency procedures will be utilized to protect the sport fisheries resources of the State and the general health, safety and welfare of the general public under the following criteria:

 

1)         Conditions

 

A)        When data analysis based upon biological surveys demonstrates that one or more fish species in a fishery is likely to suffer severe deleterious effects due to angling pressure without the procedure; or

 

B)        When the Department identifies a water of the State where a fish kill (manmade, natural, or unknown origin) occurs and determines that fishing or the removal of a dead and decaying aquatic life resulting from these conditions poses a threat to public health or safety.

 

2)         The information upon which the procedure is based was not available prior to the time frame required for normal rulemaking procedures.

 

3)         The emergency procedure must have the approval of the Chief, Division of Fisheries.

 

b)         Emergency procedures will be posted on the Department's website: www.dnr.illinois.gov and at all lake road entrances, boat launching ramps or other heavily used bank fishing areas.  A news release explaining the emergency procedures will be given to relevant State agencies, local emergency management agencies and local news media (television, newspaper, radio) prior to the effective date.  These procedures will remain in effect until the Director of the Department of Natural Resources determines that the relevant conditions listed in Section 810.80(a)(1)(A) and (B) are mitigated.  Rescission of the emergency procedures shall be posted on the Department's website and announced to local news media.  Emergency procedures that will remain in effect longer than 7 days will result in the Department filing an emergency rule.

 

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 6658, effective May 1, 2013)

 

Section 810.90  Fishing Tournament Permit

 

a)         A Fishing Tournament Permit from the Department is required for any fishing tournament event, which includes Hook and Line Fishing Tournaments and Bowfishing Tournaments, that is held in any of the waters listed in Section 810.45 or Section 810.15(d) and in any public owned or Department-managed lake, river or stream in Illinois.

 

b)         The Fishing Tournament Permit serves as the IDNR Site Activity Permit (17 Ill. Adm. Code 110.4).

 

c)         Definitions

 

1)         "Fishing Derby" – An organized event conducted for children under the age of 16 who are attending primary school, senior citizens (65 years old and older), sport fishermen with disabilities, or other school-sanctioned groups when the principal purpose is education or enjoyment, rather than competition among sport fishermen.  Tournament Permits are not required for a fishing derby.

 

2)         "Fishing Tournament" – An organized event, other than a fishing derby. An event will be considered a fishing tournament when the following criteria are present:

 

A)        the event is sponsored or promoted by an individual or organization;

 

B)        participants compete for trophies, cash, prizes, citation or other recognition for participation in the event;

 

C)        the event is conducted during a specified time period; and

 

D)        twenty or more individuals participate in the event or an exemption to Site-Specific or Statewide Regulations is requested.

 

d)         The Department shall require the director or organizer of a fishing tournament that is occurring at or on a Department site to:

 

1)         agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Department, its officers, employees and agent for any damage to property and persons as a result of the willful and/or negligent acts of the group and/or its members and/or those in attendance.  The Department will provide the Release, Waiver and Indemnification form for the group to sign and submit to the Site Superintendent; and

 

2)         the tournament director or organizer shall:

 

A)        provide proof of liability insurance of $1,000,000; or

 

B)        require each individual who participates in the event to sign a liability waiver that was attached to the issued permit and turned back in to the Department site office prior to the event.

 

e)         A copy of the Fishing Tournament Permit must be in the possession of the director or organizer at all times during the event.

 

f)         Special Length Limit and/or Daily Harvest Limit exemptions are allowed when requested on the Fishing Tournament Permit application, approved by the Department, and stated on the Fishing Tournament Permit.

 

1)         Special Length Limit and Daily Harvest Limit exemptions to Site-Specific Regulations will only be approved for:

 

A)        catch, hold for weigh-in, and release Black Bass Fishing Tournaments in Lake Michigan (Illinois Portion) for which the Special Minimum Length Limit will be 14 inches and the Daily Harvest Limit will be 3 fish daily;

 

B)        youth-only catch, hold for weigh-in and release Black Bass Fishing Tournaments, for which the Special Minimum Length Limit will be 12 inches and the Daily Harvest Limit will be 5 fish per boat.  Youth-only is defined as 18 years old and younger;

 

C)        catch, hold for weigh-in, and release Muskie Fishing Tournaments (all waters), provided all fish are released unharmed immediately after a quick weigh-in; and

 

D)        catch, hold for weigh-in, and release Black Bass Fishing Tournaments in the Mississippi River (between Illinois and Iowa) and which are permitted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, for which the special Minimum Length Limit will be 12 inches and the Daily Harvest Limit will be 5 fish per boat.

 

2)         Daily Harvest Limit exemptions to Statewide Regulations will only be approved for a common release boat utilized immediately following a catch, hold for weight-in, and release tournament.

 

g)         The statewide Daily Harvest Limit of no more than 6 largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass (black bass) that may be in possession is applicable while participating in a Hook and Line Fishing Tournament, except:

 

1)         as specified by Site Specific Regulations in Section 810.45;

 

2)         In streams and rivers (excluding the mainstem of the Mississippi, Ohio (including the Golconda Marina) and Wabash Rivers), the daily possession can contain no more than 3 smallmouth bass; and

 

3)         In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide (excluding the Mississippi, Ohio (including the Golconda Marina), Wabash, and Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel and navigable portions of the Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River, all smallmouth bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15.

 

h)         Requests for a Fishing Tournament Permit shall be made on applications provided by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries, available on the IDNR and IFishIllinois websites.

 

1)         Applications must be fully completed with all required information and received by the Department not less than 30 days prior to the tournament date.

 

2)         Fishing Tournament Permit applications will be accepted beginning November 1 of each year for the following calendar year.  Applications cannot be accepted before November 1 of the year the application is made for any fishing tournament that is to be held the following calendar year.

 

i)          The issuance or denial of a Fishing Tournament Permit by the Department shall be based upon the following criteria:

 

1)         The capability of the fishery resource to absorb the tournament with minimal impact to its well-being.

 

2)         The need for emergency protective procedures to protect the sport fisheries resources of the State and the general health, safety and welfare of the general public as provided for in Section 810.80.

 

3)         The criteria and evaluation required for approval of a Site Activity Permit, described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 110.4.

 

j)          Appeals of denied permits must be made in writing to the Department within 10 days after receipt of the denial.  Any supplemental information requested must be included in the appeal.

 

k)         Required provisions for holding, handling and releasing caught fish to protect fish health in catch, hold for weigh-in and release Hook and Line Fishing Tournaments:

 

1)         Tournament officials must be able to certify that all boats will be required to possess a livewell (except Muskie Fishing Tournaments) fitted with a functioning aerator and water pump.

 

2)         Individual boats and sport fishermen returning their catches of fish back to a release site must adhere to Daily Harvest Limits for the waterbody or the Special Daily harvest Limit listed in the Fishing Tournament Permit.

 

3)         For catch, hold for weigh-in, and release Muskie Fishing Tournaments, all boats must have a fish cradle (made from netting) to temporarily hold the muskie in the water while an official determines the length or weight of the fish prior to release. Muskies may not be transported to a weigh-in site.

 

l)          Bowfishing tournaments may be held in any of the public waters open to bowfishing listed in Section 810.45 or public waters listed in Section 810.15(d). Bowfishing tournaments are subject to the following additional rules:

 

1)         All non-native species legal to harvest with bowfishing methods listed in Section 810.45 have unlimited harvest.  No possession of live Asian carp is permitted.

 

2)         No exemptions will be granted for the wanton waste and fish abandonment provisions in Section 810.14.

 

m)        Failure to comply with the rules of this Section is a violation of Section 20-35 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

 

n)         During the months of July and August, anglers competing in catch, hold for weigh-in, and release Black Bass Fishing Tournaments must be off the water between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 1934, effective January 30, 2023)

 

Section 810.100  Bed Protection

 

a)     It is unlawful to operate any motorized vehicle upon the bed of any public water wholly or partially within the State of Illinois.

 

b)     The following vehicles are exempted from the above subsection:

 

1)     vehicles operating under a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation which allows operation in the bed of a public water;

 

2)     farm vehicles while being used for farming purposes; and

 

3)     vehicles owned or operated by United States, State of Illinois, or a political subdivision thereof.

 

(Source:  Amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 6164, effective April 17, 1990)