This is the Official Illinois Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Illinois state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Illinois Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Illinois state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Illinois fishing reg. books below and accessing the Illinois fishing regs link in the Illinois Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Illinois regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its Illinois Trout fishing, Illinois bass fishing, Illinois striper fishing, Illinois Salmon fishing, Illinois Catfish fishing, Illinois steelhead fishing, Illinois Panfish fishing, Illinois pike/muskie fishing, Illinois Walleye fishing  We have the Illinois state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Illinois fishing maps, Illinois state fishing maps, or just some Illinois fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Illinois Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Illinois, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Carlyle Lake, Cedar Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Fox Lake, Heidecke Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Lou Yeager, Lake Of Egypt, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville, Lake Springfield, Lake Taylorville, Newton Lake, Rend Lake and Sangchris Lake and others. Many of the lakes in Illinois have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Illinois is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Walleye fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Trout, Salmon, Catfish, Stripers, Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye, Spotted Gar, Bowfin and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Illinois by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports.

Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass & Spotted Bass Fishing in Illinois.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Illinois area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In Illinois

There are bass in ponds, creeks, rivers, streams, small lakes and large impoundments in Illinois. Some of the larger lakes with healthy populations of bass include Carlyle Lake, Cedar Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Fox Lake, Heidecke Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Lou Yeager, Lake Of Egypt, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville, Lake Springfield, Lake Taylorville, Newton Lake, Rend Lake and Sangchris Lake.

The Illinois state record bass was caught from Stone Quarry Lake and the state record smallmouth came from Strip Mine Lake.
rout Fishing in Illinois

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Trout Fishing Waters In Illinois

The state records for brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout all were caught in Lake Michigan. Illinois stocks trout in approximately forty community parks and area impoundments. Check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for stocking dates and details.

Salmon Fishing in Illinois

If you want to go salmon fishing in Illinois you have basically one choice. But what a choice... Lake Michigan. All state record salmon come from Lake Michigan.

Walleye Fishing in Illinois

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Walleye Fishing Lakes In Illinois

Walleye are often caught in rivers. In fact the Illinois state record walleye came from the Kankakee River. However, the vast number of walleyes are caught from reservoirs. They like cold deep water and can be found in many lakes in Illinois including Carlyle Lake, Fox Lake, Heidecke Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville and Lake Springfield.

Illinois walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

Crappie Fishing in Illinois

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Illinois

Without a doubt, there are hundreds of places to fish for crappie in IL. The bigger schools tend to thrive in larger lakes and impoundments like Carlyle Lake, Cedar Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Fox Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Lou Yeager, Lake Of Egypt, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville, Lake Taylorville and Rend Lake.

The state record black crappie came from Rend Lake and the state record white crappie came from a private pond. So check out the water nearby. It may just have a few crappie just waiting to be caught.

Catfish Fishing in Illinois

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In Illinois

Most waters in Illinois have a population of one kind of catfish or another. Rivers often yield monster catfish while the more consistent stringers come from major lakes and reservoirs like Carlyle Lake, Cedar Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Fox Lake, Heidecke Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville, Lake Springfield, Newton Lake, Rend Lake and Sangchris Lake.

The state record blue catfish came from the Mississippi River, Baldwin Lake served up the state record channel catfish and the state record flathead came from Carlyle Lake.

Sunfish Fishing in Illinois for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch and Other IL Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Illinois and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Illinois

While you can find panfish in virtually all fishing waters in the state, the most consistent stringers tend to come from larger lakes including Carlyle Lake, Cedar Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Fox Lake, Heidecke Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Lou Yeager, Lake Of Egypt, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville, Lake Springfield, Lake Taylorville, Newton Lake, Rend Lake and Sangchris Lake. Smaller waters, and especially private ponds, may serve up an occasional monster on occasion.

The Illinois state record bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish and warmouth all came from private pond. The state record redear sunfish was caught at Marion CC Lake and the state record yellow perch came from Arrowhead Club Lake.

Striper Fishing in Illinois

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striped Bass Fishing Lakes In Illinois

In addition to excellent striper fishing in Lake Michigan, Illinois residents have several options for landing a big striped bass. Try your luck at Cedar Lake, Heidecke Lake or Sangchris Lake which served up the Illinois state record striped bass.

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
World Record: 78.8 lbs

In natural settings striped bass live the majority of their life in the ocean and migrate into freshwater rivers to spawn. Once it was determined that stripers could survive in fresh water they were introduced into fresh water impoundments as a test. Results ranged from complete failure to resounding success. Often successful to the extent of eating the local species out of house and home. Stripers can live up to 30 years if conditions allow.

Striped bass generally spend their time in the middle sections of the lake, in deeper water than most fish. Their primary diet is shad. They prefer the larger shad which are too big to be eaten by the vast majority of other fish in the lake. Stripers will eat just about any fish they can get in their mouth. As a schooling fish which can grow to enormous size they can deplete a school of baitfish in very short order. When you catch a striper you can rest assured that there are probably more close by.

Fishing for Striped Bass in Illinois

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Hybrid Bass - Wiper Bass
Morone saxatilis - Morone chrysops
World Record: 27.3 lbs.

A cross between a white bass and striped bass, created by by fertilizing female white bass eggs with sperm from male striped bass. Also known as whiterock bass. They prefer water temperatures from 70 to 78 degrees. Wipers excel in the warmer waters of the southern region. They tend to school like both parent species and feed primarily on shad and other bait fish. They can be caught on light to medium tackle using jigs, spoons, live minnows and most lures imitating bait fish. Look for these hybrid striped bass near the middle sections of the lake over deep water. Fish for them as you would their parent, the striped bass.

Fishing for other Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye, Spotted Gar, Bowfin in Illinois.

Illinois offers unique fishing opportunities

Illinois Fishing Regulations Info Page     Illinois Fishing Regulations Guidebook