Section 810.37  Definitions for Site Specific Sportfishing Regulations

 

a)         Site Specific Regulations are listed by water area affected.  The coverage of the regulation is dictated by the extent of the water area listed and not by the county.  In some cases, regulations for a given water area or site may extend beyond the counties listed.  The counties listed refer to the location of the dam or outfall for impoundments or mouths of small streams.  Since large rivers or streams usually flow through many counties, the term "Multiple" is used rather than listing all counties where the large stream or river flows.

 

b)         The subsections listed below are referred to by number in Section 810.45.  Each water area listed in Section 810.45 has numbers in parenthesis that explain all of the restrictions or special provisions in this Section that apply to that water area.

 

1)         Anglers must not use more than 2 poles and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing, except that legal size cast nets, (in accordance with subsection 810.50(a)(1)) shad scoops, and minnow seines may be used to obtain shad, minnows, and crayfish to use as bait, provided that they are not sold, and except that bullfrogs may be taken by hand, gig, pitchfork, spear, landing net, and hook and line during bullfrog season.

 

2)         All jugs set in a body of water shall be under the immediate supervision of the fisherman.  Immediate supervision shall be defined as the fisherman being on the water where the jugs are set and readily available to identify jugs to law enforcement officers.

 

3)         All largemouth and smallmouth bass taken must be less than 12 inches in total length or greater than 15 inches in total length.

 

4)         Except that sport fishermen shall be allowed to use trotlines, jugs, and by hand, except that the use and aid of underwater breathing devices is prohibited.  West of Wolf Creek Road, fishing from boats is permitted all year.  Trotlines/jugs must be removed from sunrise until sunset from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  East of Wolf Creek Road, fishing from boats is permitted from March 15 through September 30.  Fishing from the bank is permitted all year only at the Wolf Creek and Route 148 causeways.  On the entire lake, jugs and trotlines must be checked daily and must be removed on the last day they are used.  It is illegal to use stakes to anchor any trotlines; they must be anchored only with portable weights and must be removed on the last day they are used.  The taking of carp and buffalo with bow and arrow is permissible.

 

5)         Except that sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers, buffalo, gar, bowfin and suckers by pitchfork, gigs, bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices.

 

6)         Including the Fox River south of the Illinois-Wisconsin line to the Algonquin Dam and the Nippersink Creek upstream to the Wilmot Road Bridge.

 

7)         Except that sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears during May and June.

 

8)         Daily catch limit includes striped bass, white bass, yellow bass and hybrid striped bass either singly or in the aggregate.

 

9)         Catch and Release Fishing Only means that fish (all or identified species) caught must be immediately released alive and in good condition back into the water from which they came.

 

10)        It shall be illegal to possess trout during the period of October 1 to 5 a.m. on the third Saturday in October (both dates inclusive) that were taken during that period.

 

11)        It shall be illegal to possess trout during the period of March 15 to 5 a.m. on the 1^st Saturday in April (both dates inclusive) that were taken during that period.

 

12)        Daily catch limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass, singly or in the aggregate, shall not exceed 6 fish per day, no more than one of which shall be greater than 15 inches in length and none of which shall be greater than 12 inches and less than or equal to 15 inches in length.

 

13)        Except that jug fishing is permitted from the hours of sunset to sunrise, and except that carp and buffalo may be taken by bow and arrow devices from May 1 through September 30.  All jugs must have owner's/user's name and complete address affixed.

 

14)        Daily catch limit includes all fish species (either singly or in the aggregate) caught within each of the following fish groupings.

 

A)        Largemouth or smallmouth bass

 

B)        Walleye, sauger, or their hybrid

 

C)        Bluegill, redear sunfish or pumpkinseed

 

D)        Channel or blue catfish

 

15)        Daily catch limit includes white, black, or hybrid crappie either singly or in the aggregate.

 

16)        Daily catch limit includes striped bass, white bass and hybrid striped bass either singly or in the aggregate.

 

17)        Daily catch limit shall not exceed 10 fish daily, no more than 3 of which may be 17 inches or longer in length.

 

18)        Except that sport fishermen shall be allowed to use trotlines, jugs and bank poles in the portions of the lake that lie north of the Davenport Bridge and northeast of the Parnell Bridge.  Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers and buffalo by bow and arrow, bow and arrow devices, gigs and spears on the entire lake, but not within 200 yards of any developed recreation areas.

 

19)        It shall be unlawful to enter upon a designated duck hunting area between sunset of the Sunday immediately proceeding opening day of regular duck season through the day before regular duck season and Canada goose season as posted at the site, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck season except in areas posted as open to fishing.  It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.

 

20)        Carlyle Lake (including its tributary streams and those portions of the Kaskaskia River and Hurricane Creek up to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project boundaries), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bond, Clinton, and Fayette Counties.  Does not include the tailwaters, except that sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting between U.S. Route 50 and the Carlyle Lake dam and spillway.

 

21)        Lake Shelbyville (including its tributary streams and those portions of the West Okaw and Kaskaskia Rivers up to Lake Shelbyville Project boundaries – including parts of the Lake Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife Management Area), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Shelby and Moultrie Counties.  Does not include the tailwater except for the 48" total length and live bait rig requirement for muskellunge (see subsections (b)(40) and (43)).

 

22)        Rend Lake (including its tributary streams and those portions of the Big Muddy and Casey Fork Rivers up to the Rend Lake Project boundaries), Rend Lake Project Ponds, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Franklin and Jefferson Counties.  Does not include tailwaters, except that sport fishermen may not use a minnow seine, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting within 1,000 yards downstream of the Rend Lake Dam and Spillway.

 

23)        Daily catch limit for black, white or hybrid crappies, singly or in the aggregate, shall not exceed 20 fish daily, no more than 10 of which can be below 10" in total length and no more than 10 of which can be 10" or longer in total length.

 

24)        15" minimum length limit for walleye with no possession of walleye greater than or equal to 20" and less than or equal to 27" in total length − protected slot limit.

 

25)        Daily catch limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass, singly or in the aggregate, shall not exceed 3 fish per day, no more than one of which may be equal to or greater than 15 inches in total length and no more than 2 of which may be less than 15 inches in total length.

 

26)        Lake Vermilion – Trotline and jug fishing allowed north of Boiling Springs Road.

 

27)        Except that bank fishing is prohibited.  Boat fishing is permitted May 1 through August 31 during the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  See site for additional regulations and exact opening and closing dates.

 

28)        Except that trotlines may be set within 300 feet from shore.

 

29)        Except that carp, buffalo, suckers and carpsuckers may be taken by means of pitchfork and gigs (no bow and arrow devices).

 

30)        Fishing is permitted from March 15 through September 30, both dates inclusive, from sunrise to sunset.  Fishing during all other times of the year is illegal and not permitted.

 

31)        Daily catch limit for largemouth or smallmouth bass, singly or in the aggregate, shall not exceed 3 fish daily, no more than one of which may be equal to or greater than 15 inches in total length and no more than 2 of which may be less than 12 inches in total length.

 

32)        Daily catch limit includes striped bass, white bass, yellow bass and hybrid striped bass, either singly or in the aggregate, no more than 4 of which may be 15 inches or longer in length.

 

33)        It shall be unlawful to trespass upon a designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck and Canada goose season except in areas posted as open to fishing.  It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.

 

34)        Except that sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers and gar by bow and arrow or bow and arrow devices, gigs, or spears from May 1 through August 31.

 

35)        Daily catch limit for walleye, sauger, or hybrid walleye, singly or in the aggregate, shall not exceed 3 fish greater than or equal to 14" and less than 18" in total length and/or 1 fish greater than 24" in total length daily creel limit.

 

36)        Except that sportfishermen may not use a minnow seine, minnow trap, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting in the following water areas:

 

Charleston Lower Channel Lake tailwaters from that portion of the Embarras River from the Charleston Lower Channel Lake Dam downstream to the Route 130 Bridge.

 

Clinton Lake tailwaters from that portion of Salt Creek from the Clinton Dam downstream to the Route 10 Bridge

 

Cook County Forest Preserve District Waters (except in the Des Plaines River)

 

Lake Decatur tailwaters from that portion of the Sangamon River from the Lake Decatur Dam downstream to the Route 48 Bridge.

 

37)        All smallmouth bass taken must be less than 12 inches in total length or greater than 18 inches in total length.  Only 1 bass greater than 18 inches and 2 bass less than 12 inches may be taken in the creel daily.

 

38)        All largemouth and smallmouth bass taken must be less than 14 inches in total length or greater than 18 inches in total length.  Only 1 bass greater than 18 inches and 5 bass less than 14 inches may be taken in the creel daily.

 

39)        Powerton Lake shall be closed to boat traffic, except for legal waterfowl hunters, from one week prior to regular waterfowl season to February 15, and closed to all unauthorized entry during the regular goose and duck season.

 

40)        The 48 inch total length limit on pure muskellunge applies to that body of water listed as well as any tailwaters as defined below:

 

Evergreen Lake (McLean County) – including the portion of Six Mile Creek below the Evergreen Lake Dam downstream to its confluence with the Mackinaw River.

 

Forbes State Lake (Marion County) − including tailwaters.

 

Fox Chain O' Lakes (Lake/McHenry Counties) – including the Fox River south of the Wisconsin-Illinois boundary to the Algonquin Dam and the Nippersink Creek upstream to the Wilmot Road Bridge.

 

Kinkaid Lake (Jackson County) – including the portion of Kinkaid Creek below the Kinkaid Lake Dam downstream to the Route 149 Bridge.

 

Lake Mingo and Kennekuk Cove Park Ponds (Vermilion County) − no tailwaters.

 

Lake Shelbyville (Moultrie/Shelby Counties) – including the portion of the Kaskaskia River below the Lake Shelbyville Dam downstream to the State Route 128 Road Bridge near Cowden.

 

Otter Lake (Macoupin County) – including the portion of Otter Creek below Otter Lake Dam downstream to its confluence with East Otter Creek.

 

Pierce Lake (Winnebago County) – including the portion of Willow Creek below the Pierce Lake Dam downstream to Forest Hills Road.

 

Shabbona Lake (DeKalb County) – including that portion of Indian Creek below the Shabbona Lake Dam downstream to Shabbona Grove Road.

 

Spring Lakes (North and South) (Tazewell County) – no tailwaters.

 

41)        It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl hunting areas during the 10 days prior to the start of the regular duck season, or to fish on such areas during the regular duck season except in areas posted as open to fishing.  It shall be unlawful to enter upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 10 days prior to the start of the regular duck season through the end of duck and Canada goose season.

 

42)        During duck season, walk-in only access for fishing from the bank is permitted after 1:00 p.m.

 

43)        When using live bait, all live bait in excess of 8" in total length shall be rigged with a quick set rig.  The hook shall be immediately set upon the strike.  A quick set rig is defined as follows:  a live bait rig with up to 2 treble hooks attached anywhere on the live bait; single hooks are prohibited.  This subsection (b)(43) does not apply to trotlines, jug lines, etc., if allowed on the lake.

 

44)        Except that sport fishermen may take carp from boat by bow and arrow and bow and arrow devices, but not within 100 feet of any developed recreation areas.

 

45)        Except that sport fishermen may take carp, buffalo, suckers, and gar by bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears (except during waterfowl season) but not within 200 yards of any developed recreational areas.

 

(Source:  Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 5275, effective March 25, 2009)