What special fishing regulations apply at Mississippi River?

Mississippi River carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Illinois' statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye (and sauger / saugeye), Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and 1 more. One of them reads: "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)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Mississippi River?

Yes. Mississippi 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 Mississippi River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Illinois rules.

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

Only where they conflict. Illinois' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mississippi 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 Mississippi River?

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

2026 regulation year

Mississippi River 2026 — Illinois Fishing Regulations

Illinois statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Mississippi River carries 6 special-regulation overlays on top of Illinois's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye (and sauger / saugeye), Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and 1 more species. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

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)
Source: Illinois special-water list

Per-species rules on Mississippi River

Smallmouth bass regulations →
14 in min, 5 / day on IL/IA pools; 12 in min, 6 / day on IL/MO pools
Walleye (and sauger / saugeye) regulations →
14–15 in by pool, 6 / day; 20–27 in protected slot on IL/IA pools
Blue catfish regulations →
20 / day combined blue + channel catfish; IL state-record blue 124 lb 4 oz (near Alton, 2005 — former IGFA all-tackle world record); IL ↔ IA + IL ↔ MO reciprocal main stem
Channel catfish regulations →
20 / day combined blue + channel catfish; IL ↔ IA + IL ↔ MO reciprocal main stem
Flathead catfish regulations →
10 flathead / day (interstate Upper Mississippi River uniform regulation); IL ↔ IA + IL ↔ MO reciprocal main stem

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 Mississippi River?: Mississippi River carries 6 special-regulation overlays that override Illinois' statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye (and sauger / saugeye), Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and 1 more. One of them reads: "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)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Mississippi River?: Yes. Mississippi 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 Mississippi River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Illinois rules.
Do Mississippi River's special rules replace Illinois' statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Illinois' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Mississippi 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 Mississippi River?: Smallmouth bass, Walleye (and sauger / saugeye), Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Mississippi River, each linking to its full Illinois regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Illinois limits.

← Back to Illinois regulations overview