Visitors Guide to
Fishing the Illinois River
in the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway Area
Jersey & Calhoun Counties, Illinois
   
Despite pollution and the continual manipulation of the environment by man, the Illinois River still provides quality sport fishing. Sport species commonly occurring in the river include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, drum, crappie species, bullhead species, bluegill and miscellaneous sunfish species.
   
Largemouth Bass
Illinois Record: 13 lbs. 1 oz
Good natural bait: Minnows, crayfish, night crawlers, and worms
Best times: Early morning or late evening
Smallmouth Bass
Illinois Record: 6 lbs. 7 oz
Good natural bait: Minnows, night crawlers, crayfish
Best times: Late evening
Channel Catfish
Illinois Record: 45 lbs. 4 oz
Good natural bait: Cut bait, shrimp, small shad, minnows, chicken livers, and night crawlers
Best times: xx
Black Bullhead Catfish
Illinois Record: 5 lbs. 6 oz
Good natural bait: Worms, crayfish, night crawlers, and cut bait
Best times: xx
Carp
Illinois Record: 51 lbs. 0 oz
Good natural bait: Prepared baits, sweet corn, worms, and night crawlers
Best times: xx
White Crappie
Illinois Record: 4 lbs. 7 oz
Good natural bait: Minnows
Best times: xx
Black Crappie
Illinois Record: 4 lbs. 8 oz
Good natural bait: Minnows
Best times: xx
Yellow Bass
Illinois Record: 2 lb. 0 oz
Good natural bait: xx
Best times: xx
White Bass
Illinois Record: 4 lbs. 14 oz
Good natural bait: xx
Best times: xx
Walleye
Illinois Record: 14 lbs. 0 oz
Good natural bait: Minnows and night crawlers
Best times: xx
Green Sunfish
Illinois Record: 2 lbs. 5 oz
Good natural bait: xx
Best times: xx
 
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  Regional Guides
to the Middle Mississippi River Valley
 
       
  Meeting of the Great Rivers
National Scenic Byway
Ste. Genevieve &
French Colonial Country
Gateway to the West
St. Louis & St. Louis County
        
 
   Meeting the Missouri
Historic St. Charles County
The Lincoln Hills Region
Northeast Missouri
   
 
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The Mississippi River
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