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Illinois River (Peoria Pool) Fishing Guide

Illinois

The Illinois River at Peoria, with channel and flathead catfish, sauger, walleye, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to the Illinois River (Peoria Pool) for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish and sauger. No agency season found for the species here.

There are 7 shops nearby, including Bass Pro Shops in East Peoria.

Season at a Glance

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Largemouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

White Bass

No Agency SeasonNo Agency Season Found

Crappie

Bluegill

Walleye

No Agency SeasonNo Agency Season Found

Channel Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Sauger

No Agency SeasonNo Agency Season Found

Legend

This Month Spawning No Agency Season Found

Spawning: Illinois DNR: Largemouth Bass; Smallmouth Bass; Crappie; Bluegill; Channel Catfish; Flathead Catfish

Season Rules & Licenses

Illinois River, Peoria Pool (2026): largemouth and smallmouth bass 12 inch minimum, 6 a day with no more than 3 smallmouth; walleye, sauger and hybrids 14 inch minimum, 6 a day. White, striped and hybrid striped bass of 17 inches or more: 3 a day (none limited under 17 inches). Upstream, the Starved Rock Pool has an 18 inch, 1 a day bass rule. Illinois DNR 2026

Rules: our short summary, not the official text. Gear & Tackle is independent, not a government site; rules change, so read the agency's current rules before you go.

Most anglers need an Illinois fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state.

Buy a License from Illinois DNR Illinois DNR Fishing Regulations

License Sellers Nearby

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

1000 Bass Pro Dr, East Peoria (309) 427-3400

S & S License & Title Service

519 NE Perry Ave, Peoria (309) 674-9532

Walmart #1028

401 River Rd, East Peoria (309) 694-0513

Source: Illinois DNR's license agent list, Oct 2026. Call ahead.

Parts of the Illinois River

Main PageIllinois RiverThe Illinois River, from the Peoria Pool's sauger, walleye and catfish water to the Alton Pool above Grafton, where Illinois DNR calls channel catfish the primary game fish.
Rivers & Streams · Illinois · You're HereIllinois River (Peoria Pool)The Illinois River at Peoria, with channel and flathead catfish, sauger, walleye, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Rivers & Streams · IllinoisIllinois River (Alton Pool)The Illinois River's Alton Pool, 80.2 miles from Grafton up to the La Grange Lock and Dam, where Illinois DNR calls channel catfish the primary game fish and blue and flathead catfish reach trophy sizes.

Illinois River (Peoria Pool) Species

Largemouth Bass

No agency season found.

Spawning: May to Jun, per Illinois DNR

View Species

Smallmouth Bass

No agency season found.

Spawning: May to Jun, per Illinois DNR

View Species

White Bass

Downstream, below the Peoria Lock and Dam (LaGrange Pool)

No agency season found.

View Species

Crappie

No agency season found.

Spawning: Apr to Jun, per Illinois DNR

View Species

Bluegill

No agency season found.

Spawning: May to Aug, per Illinois DNR

View Species

Walleye

Most dense in the upper end of the Peoria Pool, toward Starved Rock Lock and Dam

No agency season found.

View Species

Channel Catfish

Chillicothe, Lacon and Henry areas and the Peoria Narrows

No agency season found.

Spawning: May to Jul, per Illinois DNR

View Species

Flathead Catfish

No agency season found.

Spawning: Jun to Aug, per Illinois DNR

View Species

Sauger

Most dense in the upper end of the Peoria Pool, toward Starved Rock Lock and Dam

No agency season found.

View Species

Species per Illinois DNR: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish and Sauger; White Bass. White Bass: Downstream, below the Peoria Lock and Dam (LaGrange Pool), per Illinois DNR. Walleye: Most dense in the upper end of the Peoria Pool, toward Starved Rock Lock and Dam, per Illinois DNR. Channel Catfish: Chillicothe, Lacon and Henry areas and the Peoria Narrows, per Illinois DNR. Sauger: Most dense in the upper end of the Peoria Pool, toward Starved Rock Lock and Dam, per Illinois DNR.

Images: Duane Raver, Ryan Hagerty and Timothy Knepp, USFWS. Public domain.

What to Use

Fishing In

Fish

Bluegill

No agency season found

Fly

7.5 to 8 ft 3 or 4 wt rod, floating line, foam spiders and small poppers.

Rod, Reel and Line

RodRedington Classic Trout Fly RodCheck Price
ReelRedington Behemoth Fly Reel · for 4 and 5 weightCheck Price
LineRIO Gold Fly LineCheck Price

Tie On in November

Typical picks from September, our closest listed month. Ask a local shop what is working in November.

Fly for September · #6-12Foam SpiderSee Options

Spin / Cast

5 ft ultralight spinning rod, 1000 reel, 4 lb line with a small bobber.

Rod, Reel and Line

Rod & ReelUgly Stik GX2 Ultralight Spinning Combo · 4 ft 8 in ultralight rod, size 20 reelCheck Price
LineBerkley Trilene XL Monofilament · 4 lbCheck Price

Tie On in November

Bait for November · Whole or halfNightcrawlers✓ Named by Illinois DNRPinch off an inch or two.Bait Shops
Bait for November · AdultCrickets✓ Named by Illinois DNRBait Shops

Named by Illinois DNR: the Illinois Department of Natural Resources names this kind of fly, lure or bait for this fish here; tap the name for its page. It names the type, not the product we link, and does not endorse this site.

Other Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.

Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Buy Local

Shops near Illinois River (Peoria Pool):

Bass Pro Shops, East PeoriaWebsite
Academy Sports + Outdoors, PeoriaWebsite
DICK'S Sporting Goods, BloomingtonWebsite

Map of Illinois River (Peoria Pool)

Area around a representative access point; the river runs beyond it. View Larger Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Fishing VideosWatch Illinois River (Peoria Pool) Fishing Videos on YouTube

Planning for a Month

Prime in November

No agency season found for the species here.

Daylight

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Moon

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Typical Weather

51°F high, 33°F low

About 2.7 in of precipitation for the month.

Typical Flow

10,850 cfs

Most years 4,491 cfs to 16,960 cfs.

Typical, Not a Forecast: weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 6 mi away; flow from USGS gauge 05558300, 1981 to 2026.

Also Worth Packing

Clothing for November comes first, picked from typical weather here.

Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders

Durable, breathable four-layer waders built as a daily driver for seasons of wading.

Pack It For: Sep to May

Check Price Maker's Page

Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Wading Boots

Supportive wading boots with determined traction for a full range of wading conditions, worn over waders or wading socks.

Pack It For: Year-round

Check Price Maker's Page

Nets & Tools

Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net

A floating trout net with tangle-free micromesh rubberized netting and a flat bottom that supports the fish's weight evenly.

Check Price Maker's Page

Terminal Tackle

Northland Rock-Runner Bottom Bouncer

A bottom bouncer with a 10 in stainless steel wire feeler that glides over rocks, logs and weeds, for drifting and trolling spinner rigs and live bait for walleyes.

Check Price Maker's Page