18 public waters in the West Central Illinois region — 10 lakes/reservoirs and 8 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on an Illinois licence.
See every public fishing venue in Illinois on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Meredosia Lake, a 1,405-acre lake in Cass and Morgan Counties, Illinois, managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources: A Mississippi or Illinois River backwater lake (Rice Lake, Banner Marsh, Sanganois, Meredosia Lake, Anderson Lake) — shallow, fertile, connected to the river in high water. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie, Bowfin, Carp and buffalo. Classic Illinois River-valley duck-and-bass water.
Lake Jacksonville (500 acres) in Morgan County is most popular for largemouth bass, channel catfish and white crappie -- the bass population is rated very good, meeting or exceeding IDNR's lake management goals as of 2021 -- with bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid striped bass and yellow bass also present.
Mauvaise Terre Lake (159 acres) sits in Morgan County, Illinois, managed by City Land. An IDNR-managed lake on a state fish and wildlife area (Sam Parr, Ramsey, Johnson Sauk Trail, Argyle, Sangchris, Forbes, Dolan, Mermet) — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, with Muskellunge or Walleye stocked in several. Managed for quality with length limits and boat-motor restrictions on many.
At nearly 102 acres in Morgan County, Waverly Lake is West Central Illinois's most diverse public fishery, holding largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish across a mix of shallow and deeper structure.
Morgan County, Illinois — Waverly City Lake is a 61-acre lake, managed by Public boat ramp: An IDNR-managed lake on a state fish and wildlife area (Sam Parr, Ramsey, Johnson Sauk Trail, Argyle, Sangchris, Forbes, Dolan, Mermet) — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, with Muskellunge or Walleye stocked in several. Managed for quality with length limits and boat-motor restrictions on many.
Franklin Waverly Outing Club Lake in Morgan County offers West Central Illinois anglers a diverse panfish and catfish menu. Largemouth bass, warmouth, bluegill, and both black and brown bullhead thrive here, alongside blue and channel catfish for those targeting larger bottom-feeders.
Morgan Lake, a 24-acre lake in Morgan County, Illinois, managed by Private: An IDNR-managed lake on a state fish and wildlife area (Sam Parr, Ramsey, Johnson Sauk Trail, Argyle, Sangchris, Forbes, Dolan, Mermet) — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, with Muskellunge or Walleye stocked in several. Managed for quality with length limits and boat-motor restrictions on many.
In Morgan and Brown Counties, Illinois, Billings Lake is a 21-acre lake, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. An IDNR-managed lake on a state fish and wildlife area (Sam Parr, Ramsey, Johnson Sauk Trail, Argyle, Sangchris, Forbes, Dolan, Mermet) — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, with Muskellunge or Walleye stocked in several. Managed for quality with length limits and boat-motor restrictions on many.
Morgan County, Illinois — Rowe Lake is a 15-acre lake, managed by Public boat ramp: Lakes and reservoirs across this region typically hold walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish such as bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseed, with muskellunge present in some larger lakes -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Morgan and Brown Counties, Illinois — Carver Lake is a 12-acre lake, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: An IDNR-managed lake on a state fish and wildlife area (Sam Parr, Ramsey, Johnson Sauk Trail, Argyle, Sangchris, Forbes, Dolan, Mermet) — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, with Muskellunge or Walleye stocked in several. Managed for quality with length limits and boat-motor restrictions on many.
In Greene, Morgan, Macoupin and 2 more counties in Illinois, Apple Creek is a 24 km river or creek. A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Scott and Morgan Counties, Illinois — Mauvaise Terre Creek is a 76 km stream: A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Sangamon and Morgan Counties, Illinois, Lick Creek is a 27 km river or creek. A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Indian Creek runs 31 km through Morgan and Cass Counties, Illinois: A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Big Sandy Creek runs 26 km through Scott, Morgan and Pike Counties, Illinois: A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Sangamon and Morgan Counties, Illinois — South Fork Lick Creek is a 15 km stream: A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Morgan, Scott and Pike Counties, Illinois — Coon Run is a 13 km stream: A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
In Scott and Morgan Counties, Illinois, Eagle Run is a 6 km river or creek. A warmwater Illinois river or large creek — largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Carp and Drum. Wade or paddle; access at IDNR sites, county parks and bridges.
Across its mapped waters, Morgan County holds 27 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Smallmouth Bass, Freshwater Drum, Redear Sunfish and Flathead Catfish.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Illinois map Join PiscaMapsOne Illinois Department of Natural Resources fishing licence covers every public water in the state, the Corps and IDNR reservoirs included — resident annual about $16, non-resident annual about $32, with non-resident 1-day and 5-day options. Illinois has no trout stamp requirement for the great majority of its water. Illinois residents 65 and older, and anyone under 16, need no licence. Buy at dnr.illinois.gov.