FISHING IN ILLINOIS BOUNDARY RIVERS

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Illinois-Iowa

Officers of Illinois and Iowa will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used by hook-and-line anglers on the Mississippi River proper forming a common boundary between Illinois and Iowa, including its backwater lakes and sloughs contiguous with the flow of waters in the main channel; provided that you do not fish from or attach any device or equipment to the main bank of the Mississippi under the jurisdiction of the state where you are not licensed to fish. You cannot fish in any tributaries of the opposite state. You must conform to the regulations of the state in which you are fishing unless the regulations of your licensing state are more restrictive, then you must conform with the more restrictive regulations.

The center of the navigation channel is the boundary between Illinois and Iowa. Tournaments fishing Iowa waters must have Iowa tournament permits, even if launching from the Illinois side of the river.

Illinois-Missouri

Officers of Illinois and Missouri will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used in the Mississippi River and its backwaters within the boundary of Missouri adjacent to the state of Illinois. Persons licensed in only one state may also fish in the other state's portion of any oxbow lakes through which the Illinois-Missouri boundary passes, and may fish from or attach any device or equipment to land under the jurisdiction of the other state. Persons licensed in only one state may not fish in tributaries of the Mississippi in the other state. Anglers shall comply with the regulations of the state in whose waters they are fishing unless the regulations of their licensing state are more restrictive, then must comply with the more restrictive regulations. The center of the navigation, channel is considered the boundary between Illinois and Missouri, except in situations where it is clearly shown to be elsewhere.

Illinois-Kentucky Officers of Illinois and Kentucky will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used on the main stem of the Ohio River, excluding embayments and tributaries. Anglers shall abide by the regulations of the state by which they are licensed.

Illinois-Indiana

Officers of Illinois and Indiana will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state when legally possessed and used on the Wabash River forming a common boundary between Illinois and Indiana. Anglers shall not fish on water beyond the natural and ordinary river banks of the state in which they are not licensed to fish. Anglers shall not fish from land attached to or taxed by the state in which they are not licensed or fish in tributaries, bayous, or backwaters of the state. Anglers must abide by the laws of the state in which they are fishing.

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