ILLINOISDEPARTMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker,
Governor|illinois.gov

Available Soon, the 2026 Fishing Regulations Guide

by Kathy Andrews Wright |  February 2, 2026 |  Aquatic Organisms
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Robby Hayes and the bowfishing state record spotted gar harvested in 2025. All photos courtesy of Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The 2026-2027 Illinois Fishing Information guide will be available April 1. Produced by staff of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Fisheries, this guide summarizes rules and regulations effective from April 1, 2026 until March 31, 2027.

The cover of the Illinois Fishing 2026 Regulation Information booklet. On the cover is a close-up of a tan fish. In the background is a lake with a tree-filled shoreline on the horizon.
The cover of the 2026-2027 Illinois Fishing Regulation guide features a white bass photographed at Crab Orchard Lake by Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Steve Robillard.

The “What’s New for Illinois Fishing” on page 1 is a great place to start your review of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Regulation booklet. This section summarizes updates to various fishing regulations, which are bolded and highlighted in green, throughout the guide. Also present are tidbits of information key to fishing and the management of Illinois’ aquatic resource…and a favorite feature, a photo and description of a new state record fish.

In the 2026-2027 guide, Robby Hayes is congratulated for harvesting a new Illinois bowfishing state record spotted gar. Taken from Rend Lake on April 23, 2025, the gar weighed 11 pounds, 1.28 ounces and was 40.5 inches in length. Hayes’ fish topped the previous record of a 10-pound, 13.6-ounce fish caught on the Kaskaskia River in Clinton County.

Also highlighted in the 2026 guide is the recently redesigned IFishIllinois website. Designed as the official source for Illinois fishing information, IFishIllinois is a great resource for experienced anglers and those looking for a family friendly outdoor activity. Improvements to the website include:

  • At-a-glance look at news updates and upcoming events.
  • Instant access to popular pages.
  • Improved lake profile pages with recent fish stocking information and an integrated Google map featuring quick navigation to launch facilities and Access to Fishing sites.
  • Adaptive features for better viewing on phones, tablets and computers.
  • Other items of interest to anglers include fishing tips for beginners, current state records and awards, fishing programs, biologist contact information, information about Illinois sportfish and much more.
A screenshot of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries IFishIllinois website. On the homepage is a view of a freshwater lake with a man and a boy fishing while standing in a boat.
The homepage of the redesigned IFishIllinois website.

Fishing is an exciting activity when you are 5 years old and there is a fish on the line, but the process of patiently waiting can be tough. To help parents decide what locations in Illinois offer great child-friendly fishing opportunities, with nature walks, wildlife viewing opportunities and playgrounds for burning off some energy when the fish aren’t biting, a section in the guide identifies several family friendly places to fish.

“The Family Friendly Places to Fish section was introduced last year and received tremendous support from the public,” explained Mike McClelland, Chief of the IDNR Division of Fisheries. “In addition to a brief description of each of the 12 locations featured, the narrative includes a list of the available amenities, such as if the site participates in the Access to Fishing program and has fishing equipment that can be borrowed. You’ll also learn if an accessible pier is present, if boats can be rented, if the site participates in the catchable trout program and more. Click here to find even more family friendly fishing locations.

A biologist wears an orange battery-powered backpack electrofishing device while wading in a stream. On either side of the steam are tall green grasses.
In some situations, fisheries biologists sample streams and other shallow water areas using a battery-powered backpack electrofishing device. Fish are temporarily stunned, examined and released, with the information collected used to assess the diversity and health of species present.

If you’re looking for a great time to take the family on an outing, consider the annual Illinois Free Fishing Days. Designed for new anglers, women, families and youngsters to have the opportunity to fish without having to purchase a fishing license, Free Fishing Days are always the third weekend in June. The 2026 celebration is June 19-22. Follow @illinoisDNR to learn of events that will take place this year.

Also included in the guide are pages on bodies of water or water areas where the public can fish, with easy-to-reference details on the site-specific regulations that apply to each site.

The annual regulation guide is available online. Anglers may also pick up a copy at various IDNR vendors where licenses are sold, such as bait shops, marinas, sporting goods stores and some gas stations. A Spanish version of the guide is also available online and a various vendors.

Three men are on a boat floating on a lake. One man sits in the back and drives the boat. Two men stand at the front and use long-handled nets to scoop up fish that are stunned from electrofishing.
Boat electrofishing is a tool used by fisheries biologists to sample fish populations on lakes, ponds and rivers. Fish are temporarily stunned using an electric current that is supported by an in-boat generator. Stunned fish are scooped up, weighed, measured and sometimes tagged before they are returned to the water.

“Those of us who enjoy fishing are the guardians of Illinois’ aquatic resources,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie noted in her opening column in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information guide. “The money we spend on fishing licenses and equipment helps fund the state’s fisheries programs and helps protect the future of fishing in Illinois.”

If you are an angler, thank you for supporting fishing in Illinois. Please use the regulation book or purchase of your 2026 fishing license as motivation to take someone new to fishing, young or old, who could benefit from being outdoors. Not an angler yet? The regulation guide can help you find a nearby place to get started, as can OutdoorIllinois Journal articles such as Fishing on a Budget.

Everyone belongs in natue—with a fishing pole!

Kathy Andrews Wright retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where she was editor of OutdoorIllinois magazine. She is currently the editor of OutdoorIllinois Journal.

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