Illinois Fishing Water Quality
Find the best fishing spots in Illinois with real-time water quality data
Stations with the freshest data in Illinois
OHIO RIVER AT OLMSTED, IL
MASON TAZEWELL DRAINAGE D AT CR2350E NR TOPEKA, IL
DES PLAINES RIVER AT ROUTE 53 AT JOLIET, IL
DES PLAINES RIVER AT ROCKDALE, IL
FOX RIVER NEAR MCHENRY, IL
LICK CREEK NEAR WOODSIDE, IL
SUGAR CREEK NEAR CHATHAM, IL
ILLINOIS RIVER AT FLORENCE, IL
Mississippi River Pool Lock and Dam 26 at Alton,IL
BIG MUDDY RIVER AT RTE 127 AT MURPHYSBORO, IL
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Fishing Closures
Illinois not yet covered — verify officiallyVerify before fishing
Regulations can change by season, species, and water body.
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve
SpeciesNorth Dunes Nature Preserve
SpeciesAbout Fishing in Illinois
Illinois offers diverse fishing opportunities with 401 water quality monitoring stations tracking conditions across the state. Whether you're looking for bass, trout, catfish, or other species, our real-time water quality data helps you find the best fishing spots.
Understanding Readiness Scores
The readiness score (0–100) reflects how current and complete a station's public data is — how recently it reported and how many parameters it carries — not a grade of the water itself. A higher score means more up-to-date, more complete data. The direct assessment of water conditions (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, bacteria) is shown on each spot page, where those measured values are evaluated.
Planning Your Fishing Trip
Before heading out, always check local regulations and obtain the required fishing license. Water quality conditions can change rapidly, so we recommend checking scores on the day of your trip for the most accurate information.