What special fishing regulations apply at Illinois River?

Illinois River carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Illinois' statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye (and sauger / saugeye) and Blue catfish. One of them reads: "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." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Illinois River?

Yes. Illinois River is in Illinois, so a valid Illinois fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Illinois River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Illinois rules.

Do Illinois River's special rules replace Illinois' statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Illinois' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Illinois River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Illinois River?

Walleye (and sauger / saugeye) and Blue catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Illinois River, each linking to its full Illinois regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Illinois limits.

2026 regulation year

Illinois River 2026 — Illinois Fishing Regulations

Illinois statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Illinois River carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Illinois's 2026 fishing rules — covering Walleye (and sauger / saugeye), Blue catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

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
Source: Illinois special-water list

Per-species rules on Illinois River

Walleye (and sauger / saugeye) regulations →
14 in min, 6 / day combined walleye + sauger + saugeye
Blue catfish regulations →
No statewide limit on blue catfish; 273-mile main stem from Joliet to the Mississippi confluence at Grafton

Official source

Illinois Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Illinois fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

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.

Other special-regulation waters in Illinois

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Illinois River?: Illinois River carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Illinois' statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye (and sauger / saugeye) and Blue catfish. One of them reads: "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." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Illinois River?: Yes. Illinois River is in Illinois, so a valid Illinois fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Illinois River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Illinois rules.
Do Illinois River's special rules replace Illinois' statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Illinois' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Illinois River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Illinois River?: Walleye (and sauger / saugeye) and Blue catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Illinois River, each linking to its full Illinois regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Illinois limits.

← Back to Illinois regulations overview