Handful of new Illinois fishing regulations go into effect April 1

Springfield — Every paddlefish landed while fishing on the Illinois River “must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit.”

This new regulation applies mostly to “snaggers,” and will not impact many anglers in Illinois, but it is one of a handful of site-specific rule changes that will go into effect April 1. The 2026- 2027 Illinois Fishing Information Guide – it is available online and in print versions – provides all regulations through March 31, 2027.

Some of the new fishing rules for the year ahead at specific lakes and rivers:

• Walleye and sauger fishermen on the Mississippi River now have an 8 fish daily limit.

• Coffeen Lake has new crappie regulations that includes a 25-fish daily limit, with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches.

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• Largemouth bass regulation changes for all lakes and ponds at Jim Edgar/Panther Creek implements a protected slot length limit. No possession of fish 14 inches or larger and less than 18 inches is allowed. There is also a 6-fish daily limit, with no more than 1 fish greater than or equal to 18 inches and 5 fish less than 14 inches.

• Kinkaid Lake has new crappie regulations that includes a 25-fish daily limit, with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches.

• New regulations for LaSalle Rotary Park Lake places a 10-fish daily limit on bluegills and redear sunfish, along with a 6-fish limit on channel catfish.

• Lions Lake in Livingston County has set a 3-fish daily limit on channel catfish and a 14-inch minimum length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as a 1-fish daily limit on those species.

• The minimum length limit for largemouth bass at Silver Springs State Park has been removed.

• Towne Center Pond in Will County has a 3-fish daily limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

• Bourbonnais Park District Ponds in Kankakee County now have a 3-fish daily limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

In an introduction to the 2026 guide, DNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie reminded anglers that rules can change.

“While the guide is updated annually, some site-specific regulations may be changed in emergency situations during the year through the administrative rule process,” she wrote. “In those cases, changes will be posted at the location where the rules apply, and the changes will also be posted at www.ifishillinois.org.