THE ILLINOIS RIVER
FACT SHEET
The slow-moving Illinois River, which twists 273 miles through
the heart of the state before joining the Mississippi River
14 miles upstream from Alton, has shown an improved fishery
since the late 1970's, and anglers have made fine catches
of sauger and walleyes, white bass, channel catfish, largemouth
bass and panfish from both the main stream and backwaters.
Forming at the junction of the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers in the northeastern
part of the state, the Illinois and its backwaters provide
some 87,000 surface acres. There are five dams on the Illinois
River besides the one on the Mississippi at Alton in which
pool the lower 80 miles of the Illinois is included. They are the
LaGrange (between Meredosia and Beardstown) and Peoria Dams
on the lower 228 miles of the sluggish river, and the Starved
Rock, Marseilles and Dresden Island Dams on the upper 45
miles of faster flowing water.
RIVER FISHING LINKS AVAILABLE:
Tailwaters below each navigation dam are good fishing spots and provide white
bass, channel catfish and sauger or walleye action at times. Generally, the rule
is the farther one goes upstream the better walleye and sauger fishing he will
find. It is best in early spring and fall.
Backwater lakes and sloughs are silting in at a rapid pace. During periods of
low water, it is very difficult to maneuver a boat in these once lush spots.
Dropoffs in the area between the edge of the navigation channel and the nearest
flats hold fish and are excellent spots to probe for channel catfish during July,
August and September. Shad, minnows and a variety of natural and cheese stink-type
baits are good for these popular fish.
One of the best fishing stretches of the
river runs from Starved Rock at Utica to Henry. Starved Rock State Park is a
historic landmark and provides ramps and adequate parking area. Camping also
is available, and many anglers utilize the sea walls and other banks in the area
and catch a variety of fish. Starved
Rock State Park today also provides accommodations
at its beautiful lodge: 815-667-4726.
The Vermilion River joins the Illinois a bit south of Starved Rock. This stream also can
produce good fishing when water conditions are good. Other productive fishing spots in
the area are the rip rap along shore at Peru, the Hennepin area, Twin Sisters Island south
of Hennepin and the old dam area at Henry.
Some excellent sauger action has unfolded below the Starved Rock Dam in recent years
and usually begins in March or even earlier. One of the best ways to catch these tasty fish
is to use a minnow on a floating jig with enough weight to keep it on the bottom. The
spring white bass run follows the saugers and walleyes, and if an angler arrives at the
right time, he can catch both species.
Channel catfish and bullheads also
are taken by trotliners who fish
backwater areas. Fishing is at its
best when the river is rising and
floods the lowland timber areas,
revealing new food for these fish. A
lot of bullheads, drum and carp also
are taken from the river as well as
crappies and bluegills, in addition to
largemouth bass and an occasional smallmouth.
From its beginning where the Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers enter to Ottawa, the
Dresden and Marseilles Dams, Sheehan Island and Covel Creek south of Ottawa and
Ballard Island north of Marseilles are considered the best fishing spots. There are ramps
available at Ottawa, Wm. G. Stratton State Park at Morris and Illini State Park near
Marseilles. The latter also provides campgrounds with electrical hookups.
From Henry south to the Peoria Dam, the
Peoria "narrows" near McCluggage Bridge (Ill.
Route 150), the Woodford County
Conservation Area, the East River area which
enters it, Lacon Harbor and the Henry Island
areas are good fishing spots. There are at
least a half dozen launch sites along this
stretch. Camping is available at both the
Woodford and Marshall County Conservation
areas which also provide bank fishing
opportunities at "ditches" near the
campgrounds.
Anglers wanting to fish below the Peoria Dam can launch at excellent facilities at Pekin
and head upstream. Heading south, there also are ramps at Kingston Mines, Liverpool,
Goofy Ridge adjacent to Lake Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, which also provides a
fishery when water conditions are right, and Havana.
Though separated from the river by levees and adjacent private waters, Rice Lake
Conservation Area also has made a comeback as a fishery, providing good bullhead,
largemouth bass, white bass, bluegill and channel cat fishing at times. The area also has
boat access and camping facilities with electricity. The lake is drawn down in summer to
allow growth of aquatic vegetation for waterfowl.
South of Bath, to Beardstown, Anderson Lake backwaters around the Sanganois
Conservation area can be good bass and pan-fish waters. Ramps are located at each area,
and camping is permitted along the lake at Anderson. Launching also is available at
Beardstown. Launching and camping also is available at the LaGrange Dam, and ramps
also are located at Meredosia Lake, Meredosia, Naples, Florence and Pearl.
A number of island areas between
Kampsville and Hardin provide
good fisheries, and there are
numerous backwater opportunities
just north of Grafton where the
Illinois enters the Mississippi.
Stump Lake, a 1,036-acre area
about six miles north of Grafton, is
one of the better spots in the state
for bluegills, crappies and
bullheads. Fowler, Long and Swan
Lakes in that area are also good
fishing spots.
Camping is available at Pere Marquette State Park at Hadley Landing, the Glades in that
area and at Godar Diamond a bit upstream and north of Hardin. Pere Marquette State
Park Lodge, 618-786-3785.
Ice fishing also is popular on many of these sloughs and backwater areas of this
river during the winter months.
