Section 830.10  Waters Open to Commercial Harvest of Fish

The following Illinois waters are open to commercial harvest of fish:

a)         Mississippi River and connected public (accessible by boat during normal flows or stages; see also Section 830.50) backwaters, including that portion of the Kaskaskia River below the navigation lock and dam, except:

1)         Quincy Bay, including Quinssippi Island and Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Area (except by special permit); and

2)         U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge backwaters.

b)         Illinois River and connected public (accessible by boat during normal flows or stages; see also Section 830.50) backwaters from Route 89 highway bridge downstream, except for:

1)         U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge waters;

2)         Donnelly/Depue State Fish and Wildlife Area;

3)         Rice Lake Complex, including all of Big Lake;

4)         Meredosia Lake in Cass and Morgan Counties 7 days prior to and during the central zone duck season;

5)         Clear Lake in Mason County 7 days prior to and during the central zone duck season;

6)         Goose Lake and portions of Upper Peoria Lake that border, and include, Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area, 7 days prior to and during the central zone duck season;

7)         Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area, including Marshall Unit, Duck Ranch Unit, and Sparland Unit, 7 days prior to and during the central zone duck season; and

8)         Route 89 highway bridge to Starved Rock Dam for the commercial removal of Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Grass Carp and Black Carp unless authorized by a limited number of restricted period contracts.

c)         Wabash River.

d)         Embarras River, except from Route 130 in Coles County upstream to the Harrison Street Bridge, and except Charleston Side Channel Lake.

e)         Sangamon River, downstream of Belt Route 48 southwest of Decatur to mouth in Cass County.

f)         Kaskaskia River south of Route U.S. 50 Bridge to mouth in Randolph County.

g)         Little Wabash River.

h)         Big Muddy River south of State Route 14 highway bridge in Franklin County to mouth in Jackson County.

i)          Skillet Fork River.

j)          Cache River from Route 51 downstream to the Mississippi River via Cache Diversion Channel but not including that portion of the Cache River between the Cache Diversion Channel Levee and the Ohio River.

k)         Saline River in Gallatin and Saline Counties.

l)          Ohio River, except for:

1)         Olmstead Locks and Dam downstream to a line perpendicular with the end of the longest lock wall, including the circular cell portion;

2)         Smithland Dam downstream to a line perpendicular to the end of the outer lock wall; and

3)         Within 50 yards of the mouth of any tributary or stream.

m)        South Fork of the Sangamon River from State Highway 48 bridge downstream to the Sangamon River in Christian and Sangamon Counties.

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 8079, effective June 1, 2026)