What special fishing regulations apply at Ohio River?

Ohio River carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Illinois' statewide 2026 rules, covering Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "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)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Ohio River?

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

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

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

Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Ohio River, each linking to its full Illinois regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Illinois limits.

2026 regulation year

Ohio River 2026 — Illinois Fishing Regulations

Illinois statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Ohio River carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Illinois's 2026 fishing rules — covering Blue catfish, Channel catfish, Flathead 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

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)
Source: Illinois special-water list

Per-species rules on Ohio River

Blue catfish regulations →
13 in min, no limit under 35 in, 1 blue ≥ 35 in / day; IL/KY boundary under the Ohio River Reciprocity Compact
Channel catfish regulations →
13 in min, no limit under 28 in, 1 channel ≥ 28 in / day; IL/KY boundary under the Ohio River Reciprocity Compact
Flathead catfish regulations →
13 in min, no limit under 35 in, 1 flathead ≥ 35 in / day; IL/KY boundary under the Ohio River Reciprocity Compact

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 Ohio River?: Ohio River carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Illinois' statewide 2026 rules, covering Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "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)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Ohio River?: Yes. Ohio 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 Ohio River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Illinois rules.
Do Ohio River's special rules replace Illinois' statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Illinois' statewide 2026 regulations apply on Ohio 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 Ohio River?: Blue catfish, Channel catfish, and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Ohio River, each linking to its full Illinois regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Illinois limits.

← Back to Illinois regulations overview