2026 regulation year
Illinois Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Illinois licences are sold by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on an annual licence year that expires March 31 — annual licences go on sale March 1 and stay valid through March 31 of the following year. Illinois sits on more navigable boundary water than any other inland state — Lake Michigan along the northeast, the Mississippi River boundary with Iowa + Missouri + Kentucky along the west + south, the Ohio River boundary with Kentucky along the southern edge, and the Wabash River boundary with Indiana along the east. The Illinois River runs the diagonal from Joliet to the Mississippi confluence at Grafton. The IDNR-distinctive Salmon Stamp ($6.50 res / $6.50 NR) is required to take Lake Michigan chinook + coho + lake trout + brown + rainbow / steelhead and the Inland Trout Stamp ($6.50 res / $6.50 NR) is required to take trout from designated inland stocked trout sites (~ 60 IDNR sites, two-season opener — first Saturday of April + third Saturday of October). Carlyle Lake (26,000 acres on the Kaskaskia River — the largest manmade lake wholly in Illinois) is a recurring Bassmaster Open Central Division + MLF Toyota Series Central venue and one of the country's premier mid-South inland tournament waters. Rend Lake (18,900 acres in southern Illinois) + Lake Shelbyville (11,100 acres on the Kaskaskia River) round out the major inland reservoir tier; the IL cooling-lake circuit (Heidecke + LaSalle + Newton + Powerton + Sangchris + Coffeen) supports year-round open-water bass + striped bass / hybrid striped bass driven by power-plant thermal discharge. Shabbona Lake (320 acres in DeKalb County) is IDNR's flagship muskellunge management lake — IL state-record muskie 38 lb 8 oz came from Shabbona in 2002. The Fox Chain O' Lakes (Lake / McHenry Counties — 7,100 acres of interconnected glacial lakes) is the largest natural-lake system in Illinois and the premier northeast-IL multi-species water.
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License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual sport fishing | $15.00 | |
| Resident 24-hour sport fishing | $5.50 | |
| Resident 3-year sport fishing | $44.00 | |
| Resident senior (65–74) annual fishing | $7.75 | |
| Resident super-senior (75+) annual fishing | $1.50 | Reduced senior rate; 75+ also pay only $0.50 for the trout / salmon stamps |
| Resident lifetime sport fishing | $435.00 | One-time fee — IL residents only (the separate Lifetime Sportsmen's hunting + fishing combination is $765) |
| Resident inland Trout Stamp (add-on) | $6.50 | Required to take trout from any designated inland stocked trout site |
| Resident Salmon Stamp (add-on) | $6.50 | Required to take Lake Michigan salmon + trout (chinook / coho / lake trout / brown / rainbow / steelhead) |
| Resident disabled veteran or former POW | Free | Free — no licence required for ≥10% service-connected disabled veterans or former POWs (proof required) |
| Resident legally disabled or blind | Free | Free — no licence required (proof required) |
| Resident youth (under 16) | Free | Not required under age 16 |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual fishing | $31.50 | |
| Non-resident 24-hour fishing | $10.50 | |
| Non-resident 3-day fishing | $15.50 | |
| Non-resident inland Trout Stamp (add-on) | $6.50 | |
| Non-resident Salmon Stamp (add-on) | $6.50 | |
| Non-resident youth (under 16) | Free | Not required under age 16 |
Buy directly from Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bassCompare across states → | Year-round most waters; IL cooling-lake circuit (Newton / Sangchris / Powerton / Heidecke) trophy fishery year-round under thermal discharge | 6 / day combined black bass (largemouth + smallmouth + spotted) statewide; many cooling + state recreational lakes set 3 / day | No statewide size limit; 14–18 in minimums + protected slots apply only on listed waters (cooling lakes, state recreational lakes) |
| Smallmouth bassCompare across states → | Year-round most waters; Kankakee River + Fox River + Mississippi River pools premier stream + river smallmouth | 6 / day combined black bass statewide; no more than 3 smallmouth / day in rivers + streams; all smallmouth released Apr 1 – Jun 15 in most rivers | No statewide size limit; site-specific minimums + protected slots on listed waters; Mississippi River 12–14 in by pool |
| Walleye (and sauger / saugeye)Compare across states → | Year-round most waters; Mississippi River + Illinois River + Carlyle + Lake Shelbyville flagship | 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + saugeye statewide | 14 in min walleye + sauger + saugeye statewide (except Mississippi + Wabash Rivers + site-specific waters); Mississippi River 14–15 in by pool |
| Crappie (white + black)Compare across states → | Year-round | No statewide harvest limit; site-specific limits on listed reservoirs (Carlyle 15, Rend 25, Lake Shelbyville 15) | No statewide size limit; 10 in min on Carlyle + certain state recreational lakes |
| MuskellungeCompare across states → | Year-round; pre-spawn February – April + fall October – November trophy windows | 1 / day statewide (muskellunge + tiger muskellunge combined) | 36 in min statewide (muskellunge + tiger muskie); 48 in min on listed trophy waters (Shabbona / Pierce / Kinkaid / Heidecke / Shelbyville / Evergreen / Fox Chain) |
| Blue catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | No statewide limit; Mississippi River 20 / day combined blue + channel; Ohio + Wabash Rivers 1 / day 35 in or longer | No statewide minimum; 13 in min on the Ohio + Wabash Rivers (max 1 blue ≥ 35 in / day there) |
| Channel catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | No statewide limit; many inland lakes 6 / day (site-specific); Mississippi River 20 / day combined blue + channel; Ohio + Wabash 1 / day 28 in or longer | No statewide minimum; 13 in min on the Ohio + Wabash Rivers (max 1 channel ≥ 28 in / day there) |
| Flathead catfishCompare across states → | Year-round statewide | No statewide limit; Mississippi River 10 / day; Ohio + Wabash Rivers 1 / day 35 in or longer | No statewide minimum; 13 in min on the Ohio + Wabash Rivers (max 1 flathead ≥ 35 in / day there) |
Notable water-body special regulations
63 miles of IL shoreline; Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp REQUIRED ($6.50 res / $6.50 NR) to take chinook + coho + lake trout + brown + rainbow / steelhead; 5 / day combined salmon + trout (10 in min all trout + salmon) but no more than 2 lake trout / day; large + smallmouth bass 21 in min, 1 / day; yellow perch 15 / day, closed May 1 – June 15
Boundary water — IL or boundary-state licence honored on main stem (IL ↔ IA reciprocal main-stem; IL ↔ MO reciprocal main-stem; IL ↔ KY at the Cairo confluence); black bass 6 / day, 14 in min + 5 / day on IL/IA pools, 12 in min on IL/MO pools; walleye + sauger 6 / day, 15 in min + 20–27 in protected slot on IL/IA pools, 14 in min on IL/MO pools; catfish 20 / day combined blue + channel + 10 / day flathead (interstate Upper Mississippi River uniform regulation); paddlefish snagging with permit (keeper min 24 in eye-to-fork IL/MO; release all ≤ 33 in IL/IA); pallid sturgeon protected (must release)
Boundary water with Kentucky — IL or KY licence honored on main stem under Ohio River Reciprocity Compact; 12 in min largemouth + smallmouth + spotted, 6 / day combined; catfish 13 in min — channel: no limit under 28 in + 1 / day ≥ 28 in; blue + flathead: no limit under 35 in + 1 / day ≥ 35 in (matches KY + IN under joint Ohio River Fisheries Management Team coordination)
Boundary water with Indiana — IL or IN licence honored on main stem; 12 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; catfish 13 in min — channel: no limit under 28 in + 1 / day ≥ 28 in; blue + flathead: no limit under 35 in + 1 / day ≥ 35 in (matches IN side); sauger + walleye 14 in min, 6 / day combined
273-mile main stem from Joliet to the Mississippi confluence at Grafton; black bass 6 / day (no statewide size limit); walleye + sauger 14 in min, 6 / day combined; every paddlefish landed must be taken into immediate possession + counted toward the daily limit (2026 rule); commercial + sport invasive-carp (copi) ranges; channel + flathead catfish trophy
Carlyle Lake (Clinton / Bond / Fayette Counties)
26,000-acre Kaskaskia River impoundment — largest manmade lake wholly in IL; recurring Bassmaster Open Central + MLF Toyota Series venue; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; 10 in min crappie, 15 / day; walleye + sauger, striped / hybrid striped bass + muskellunge follow the statewide rules (walleye 14 in / 6, muskie 36 in / 1)
Rend Lake (Franklin / Jefferson Counties)
18,900-acre Big Muddy River impoundment, southern IL; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; crappie 25 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer; striped + hybrid striped trophy; channel + flathead catfish; walleye 14 in min, 6 / day combined
Lake Shelbyville (Shelby / Moultrie Counties)
11,100-acre Kaskaskia River impoundment, central IL; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; crappie 15 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer; walleye + saugeye 14 in min, 6 / day combined; muskellunge 48 in min, 1 / day; striped bass 32 in min, 2 / day
320-acre state park lake — IDNR flagship muskellunge management water; IL state-record muskie 38 lb 8 oz came from Shabbona (2002); 48 in min muskie, 1 / day; 14 in min largemouth, 3 / day; 10 in min crappie, 10 / day; walleye 18 in min, 3 / day; trolling permitted with electric motor only
1,775-acre cooling lake on the IL coal-fired Newton Power Station; year-round open-water trophy largemouth driven by thermal discharge; 18 in min largemouth, 3 / day; 10 in min crappie, 10 / day; striped + hybrid striped
1,955-acre cooling lake on the IL Collins Power Station; year-round striped bass + hybrid striped bass; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 10 / day, no more than 3 of 17 in or longer; walleye 16 in min, 3 / day; muskellunge 48 in min, 1 / day; trolling permitted
2,058-acre cooling lake on the LaSalle County Nuclear Power Station; year-round striped bass + hybrid striped + smallmouth + largemouth driven by thermal discharge; 14 in min striped + hybrid striped, 6 / day combined; 14 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 6 / day combined
Powerton Lake (Tazewell County)
1,395-acre cooling lake on the Powerton Power Station; year-round largemouth + striped + hybrid striped bass; 18 in min largemouth, 1 / day; striped + hybrid striped bass; battery-electric motors only
Lake Sangchris (Christian / Sangamon Counties)
2,165-acre cooling lake on the Kincaid Power Station; year-round trophy largemouth driven by thermal discharge; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; 18 in min protected slot on listed coves; crappie + bluegill + redear sunfish
Coffeen Lake (Montgomery County)
1,100-acre cooling lake on the Coffeen Power Station; year-round largemouth + striped + hybrid striped; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; crappie 10 in min, 10 / day; striped + hybrid striped
Fox Chain O' Lakes (Lake / McHenry Counties)
7,100-acre interconnected glacial-lake system — largest natural-lake system in IL; 14 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 6 / day combined; 14 in min walleye + northern pike 24 in min, 3 / day combined; 25 / day crappie; muskellunge 48 in min, 1 / day
Premier stream smallmouth in northeast IL; smallmouth + largemouth 12–18 in protected slot, 3 / day; flathead + channel catfish trophy; walleye + sauger 14 in min combined; IL/IN boundary section at the state line — IL or IN licence honored
Fox River (Wisconsin border to Illinois River)
Premier stream smallmouth in northern IL — Fox River Chain feeder; smallmouth 6 / day, no more than 3 / day + released Apr 1 – Jun 15 (river rule, no statewide size limit); walleye 14 in min, 6 / day; channel + flathead catfish; mussel-bed Special Concern reaches
Western IL stream smallmouth + walleye + sauger; walleye + sauger 14 in min, 6 / day combined; smallmouth 6 / day, no more than 3 / day + released Apr 1 – Jun 15 (river rule, no statewide size limit); channel + flathead catfish trophy
Lake Springfield (Sangamon County)
4,235-acre Springfield municipal water-supply reservoir; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; 10 in min crappie, 10 / day; striped + hybrid striped; channel catfish
2,800-acre Sangamon River impoundment, central IL; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; 10 in min crappie, 10 / day; channel + flathead catfish; walleye + sauger
6,965-acre Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge lake, southern IL; federal NWR rules apply — separate USFWS daily access fee + IL fishing licence both required; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; 9 in min crappie, 15 / day; trophy redear sunfish; outboard motor horsepower limits
810-acre deep, clear lake within Crab Orchard NWR; USFWS access fee + IL licence both required; 14 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 6 / day combined; rainbow + brown trout stocked under inland Trout Stamp; trolling motor only
452-acre southern IL state fish + wildlife area lake; cypress-swamp bass + crappie fishery; 16 in min largemouth, 3 / day; crappie 25 / day; channel catfish
1,000-acre Mattoon municipal lake; 14 in min largemouth, 6 / day combined; 10 in min crappie, 10 / day; channel catfish
Cooling lake on the Clinton Power Station, central IL — year-round open-water trophy bass driven by thermal discharge; 16 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 3 / day (stricter than the 14 in / 6 statewide); walleye 18 in min, 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 10 / day, no more than 3 of 17 in or longer; crappie 15 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer and 5 under 10 in; blue + channel catfish 10 / day
Baldwin Lake (Randolph County)
Cooling lake on the Baldwin Power Station, southwestern IL — year-round warm-water trophy fishery; 18 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 3 / day (stricter than the 14 in / 6 statewide); striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; crappie 9 in min, 25 / day
Cooling lake on the Braidwood Generating Station, northeastern IL — year-round largemouth + hybrid striped bass driven by thermal discharge; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 10 / day, no more than 3 of 17 in or longer
Lake Bloomington (McLean County)
Bloomington municipal water-supply reservoir, central IL; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 3 / day; walleye 18 in min, 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 10 / day, no more than 3 of 17 in or longer; crappie 15 / day, no more than 5 of 10 in or longer
Lake Jacksonville (Morgan County)
Jacksonville municipal lake, west-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot (no harvest of fish 14 in to under 18 in), 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; crappie 25 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer
Galesburg city lake, western IL; largemouth + smallmouth 12–18 in protected slot, 3 / day; muskellunge 42 in min (above the 36 in statewide minimum); walleye + sauger + hybrid walleye 3 / day; blue + channel catfish 6 / day
Lincoln Trail Lake (Clark County)
lake in Lincoln Trail State Park, east-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot, 4 / day with no more than 1 of 18 in or longer; crappie 25 / day; bluegill + redear sunfish 25 / day, no more than 5 of 9 in or longer; channel catfish 6 / day
Effingham-area water-supply lake, south-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15–18 in protected slot; crappie 25 / day
Macoupin County water-supply lake, west-central IL; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 3 / day; muskellunge 48 in min; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 10 / day, no more than 3 of 17 in or longer; channel catfish 6 / day
Lake Vermilion (Vermilion County)
Danville water-supply lake on the North Fork Vermilion River, east-central IL; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth; crappie 9 in min, 15 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Pierce Lake (Winnebago County)
lake in Rock Cut State Park near Rockford, northern IL; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 1 / day; muskellunge 48 in min; crappie 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Pana Lake (Shelby / Christian Counties)
Pana city reservoir, central IL; 14 in min largemouth + smallmouth; muskellunge 48 in min; channel catfish 6 / day
Mt. Sterling Lake (Brown County)
Mt. Sterling city lake, west-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 12–15 in protected slot; channel catfish 6 / day
Little Grassy Lake (Williamson County)
lake in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, southern IL; USFWS refuge access fee + IL fishing licence both required; largemouth + smallmouth 12–15 in protected slot (no harvest of fish 12 in to under 15 in); channel catfish 6 / day
Lake Le-Aqua-Na (Stephenson County)
lake in Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park, northwestern IL; 14 in min largemouth + smallmouth, 1 / day; crappie 10 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Lake Taylorville (Christian County)
Taylorville municipal lake, central IL; 15 in min largemouth + smallmouth; crappie 25 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer
Snakeden Hollow (McMaster Lake) (Knox County)
McMaster Lake at Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area, western IL — a renowned IDNR trophy bass + muskie fishery reclaimed from former surface-mine ground; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot, 3 / day; muskellunge protected slot — keep 1 of 36 in to under 42 in OR 1 of 48 in or longer; walleye + sauger + hybrid 3 / day; crappie 25 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer; bluegill + redear 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Cook County Forest Preserve chain of lagoons on the Skokie River north of Chicago — a well-known northern-IL urban fishery; largemouth + smallmouth 14 in min, 3 / day (stricter than the 6 / day statewide); walleye + sauger + hybrid 18 in min, 6 / day; crappie 15 / day; bluegill + redear + pumpkinseed 15 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Cook County Forest Preserve lake near Orland Park — an electric-motor-only walleye + crappie water; largemouth + smallmouth 14 in min, 6 / day combined; walleye + sauger + hybrid 18 in min, 6 / day; crappie 15 / day; bluegill + redear + pumpkinseed 15 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Sahara Woods State Fish & Wildlife Area, a reclaimed surface-mine lake complex in southeastern IL; largemouth + smallmouth 18 in min, 1 / day (trophy-bass management); crappie 15 / day; bluegill + redear 15 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Spring Lake (McDonough County)
McDonough County lake in western IL near Macomb; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 3 / day; muskellunge 42 in min (above the 36 in statewide minimum); striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; walleye 18 in min, 3 / day; blue + channel catfish 6 / day
Lake County water in northeastern IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 1 / day (trophy-bass management); muskellunge 48 in min; walleye + sauger + hybrid 16 in min, 6 / day; channel catfish 3 / day
Toledo Reservoir (Cumberland County)
Toledo city reservoir, east-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 12–15 in protected slot, 3 / day with no more than 1 of 15 in or longer and 2 under 12 in; channel catfish 6 / day
Vandalia Lake (Fayette County)
Vandalia municipal water-supply lake in the Kaskaskia River drainage, south-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 14 in min, 6 / day combined; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Washington County Lake (Washington County)
lake at the Washington County Conservation Area near Nashville, southwestern IL; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot, 3 / day with no more than 1 of 18 in or longer and 2 under 14 in; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Weldon Springs Lake (DeWitt County)
lake in Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton, central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 1 / day; walleye + sauger + hybrid 15 in min, 3 / day with no more than 1 of 20 in or longer; bluegill + redear 15 / day, no more than 5 of 7 in or longer; channel catfish 6 / day
Will County Forest Preserve lake near Naperville, northeastern IL; largemouth + smallmouth 18 in min, 1 / day (trophy-bass management); walleye + sauger + hybrid 16 in min, 3 / day; bluegill + redear 15 / day; channel catfish 3 / day
Walnut Point Lake (Douglas County)
lake in Walnut Point State Park, east-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 12–15 in protected slot (no harvest of fish 12 in to under 15 in); bluegill + redear 20 / day, no more than 5 of 8 in or longer; channel catfish 6 / day
Dawson Lake (Moraine View State Recreation Area) (McLean County)
lake in the Moraine View State Recreation Area near Le Roy, central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 3 / day with no more than 1 of 15 in or longer and 2 under 15 in; walleye + sauger + hybrid 15 in min, 3 / day with no more than 1 of 20 in or longer; crappie 15 / day; bluegill + redear 20 / day, no more than 5 of 8 in or longer; channel catfish 6 / day
Des Plaines River Basin (Cook County)
Cook County reaches of the Des Plaines River system, northeastern IL; largemouth + smallmouth catch-and-release only; northern pike 30 in min, 1 / day; walleye + sauger + hybrid 18 in min, 1 / day; crappie 10 / day; channel catfish 15 in min, 6 / day
lake at the Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area, southeastern IL; largemouth + smallmouth 18 in min, 1 / day (trophy-bass management); bluegill + redear 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Double "T" Lake (Fulton County)
reclaimed strip-mine lake complex at the Double T State Fish & Wildlife Area in Fulton County, west-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 21 in min, 1 / day — the highest bass minimum length of any Illinois water; muskellunge 42 in min (above the 36 in statewide minimum); crappie 10 in min, 25 / day; bluegill + redear 25 / day; blue + channel catfish 6 / day
Emiquon Preserve – Thompson Lake (Fulton County)
The Nature Conservancy's restored Emiquon Preserve floodplain lake (Thompson Lake) along the Illinois River in Fulton County — a nationally noted wetland-restoration fishery; largemouth + smallmouth 18 in min, 1 / day; crappie 9 in min, 25 / day; bluegill + redear + other sunfish 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Evergreen Lake (McLean County)
Bloomington's Evergreen Lake in Comlara Park, McLean County, central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 3 / day; muskellunge 48 in min; walleye + sauger + hybrid 18 in min, 3 / day; crappie 15 / day, no more than 5 of 10 in or longer
Gladstone Lake (Henderson County)
lake at the Henderson County Conservation Area, western IL; largemouth + smallmouth 12–15 in protected slot, 3 / day with no more than 1 of 15 in or longer and 2 under 12 in; muskellunge 48 in min; bluegill + redear 10 / day; blue + channel catfish 6 / day
Glen O. Jones Lake (Saline County)
lake at the Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area, southeastern IL; largemouth + smallmouth 14–18 in protected slot, 6 / day with no more than 1 of 18 in or longer and 5 under 14 in; channel catfish 6 / day
Glenn Shoals Lake (Montgomery County)
Hillsboro municipal lake in Montgomery County, south-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
Governor Bond Lake (Bond County)
Greenville municipal water-supply lake in Bond County, south-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 3 / day; striped + white + hybrid striped bass 17 in min, 3 / day; crappie 25 / day
Hennepin & Hopper Lakes (Putnam County)
The Wetlands Initiative's restored Hennepin & Hopper Lakes (Dixon Waterfowl Refuge) in Putnam County, north-central IL; largemouth + smallmouth 15 in min, 3 / day; muskellunge 42 in min (above the 36 in statewide minimum); walleye + sauger + hybrid 18 in min, 3 / day; crappie 9 in min, 25 / day; channel catfish 6 / day
2,750-acre Kinkaid Lake at the Kinkaid Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area near Murphysboro, southwestern IL — one of the premier muskellunge + smallmouth reservoirs in southern Illinois; largemouth + smallmouth 16 in min, 3 / day; muskellunge 48 in min; crappie 15 / day, no more than 10 of 10 in or longer
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fishing license to fish in Illinois?
- Yes. Illinois requires residents and non-residents alike to hold a valid fishing license, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. Buy directly from Illinois Department of Natural Resources; resident and non-resident fees are listed in the tables above.
- How much is a fishing license in Illinois?
- Resident fees range from $1.50 (resident super-senior (75+) annual fishing) to $435.00 (resident lifetime sport fishing); Non-resident fees range from $6.50 (non-resident inland trout stamp (add-on)) to $31.50 (non-resident annual fishing). The full breakdown — annual, multi-day, senior, and lifetime options — is in the license-fee tables above, and you can compare Illinois against every other state on the license-fee comparator.
- What fish can you catch in Illinois?
- Illinois anglers most commonly target Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Walleye (and sauger / saugeye), Crappie (white + black), Muskellunge, Blue catfish, and others. Each species sets its own season, daily bag, and size or slot limit — compare them in the species table above, or open a species page for the full 2026 rule.
- When does fishing season open in Illinois?
- It depends on the species — Illinois sets a separate season for each. Warmwater fish like bass, catfish, and panfish are open year-round in most of the state, while trout, walleye, salmon, and other cold-water or migratory species have dated seasons. The season column in the table above shows each one, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources can shift dates by emergency order.
- Are there special fishing rules on specific Illinois waters?
- Yes. 65 named Illinois waters carry regulations that differ from the statewide rule, including Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, Ohio River, and 62 more. See the notable water-body special regulations above for the exact rule on each.
Official source
Illinois Department of Natural Resources is the authoritative source for Illinois fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.
Visit official Illinois fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Illinois Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Illinois trip during the active season.