33 public waters in the Northern Illinois region — 8 lakes/reservoirs and 25 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.
In Winnebago and Stephenson Counties, Illinois, Lake Summerset is a 271-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.
In Winnebago County, Illinois, Pierce Lake is a 151-acre lake, managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 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.
Winnebago County's Westlake spans 83 acres and punches above its weight with a diverse sunfish population—bluegill, redear, green and longear sunfish all inhabit its waters alongside largemouth bass and crappie. Channel catfish and multiple crappie species make this a panfish specialist's destination in Northern Illinois.
Victoria Lake, a 75-acre lake in Winnebago 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.
This 40-acre Winnebago County lake in Northern Illinois offers solid smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing, with bluegill providing reliable panfish action throughout the season. A public boat ramp provides easy access to a compact fishery ideal for anglers targeting bass in shallow to moderate depths.
Olson Lake, a 37-acre Winnebago County lake, delivers quality largemouth bass and muskellunge fishing with bluegill as a reliable panfish backup. Its modest footprint makes it manageable for small-boat anglers while still holding fish worth the trip.
Windsor Lake in Winnebago County, Northern Illinois, delivers smallmouth bass and walleye alongside channel catfish for a cool-water accent in its 33.6-acre frame. The smallmouth-walleye combination gives this lake distinction in a region heavy on largemouth-dominated waters.
Levings Lake (26 acres) sits in Winnebago County, Illinois, managed by Regional Agency 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.
The Rock River across northern Illinois — Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Largemouth Bass, and channel and Flathead Catfish in a wide, historically industrial river that has recovered strongly.
Pecatonica River (136 km) flows through Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, Illinois. A central-Illinois prairie river (the Sangamon, Vermilion, Embarras, Mackinaw, Spoon, La Moine) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Carp and Drum. Muddy, meandering, agricultural-belt water.
DeKalb, Winnebago and Ogle Counties, Illinois — South Branch Kishwaukee River is a 85 km stream: A central-Illinois prairie river (the Sangamon, Vermilion, Embarras, Mackinaw, Spoon, La Moine) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Carp and Drum. Muddy, meandering, agricultural-belt water.
McHenry, Boone and Winnebago Counties, Illinois — Kishwaukee River is a 22 km stream: A central-Illinois prairie river (the Sangamon, Vermilion, Embarras, Mackinaw, Spoon, La Moine) — smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Carp and Drum. Muddy, meandering, agricultural-belt water.
Killbuck Creek runs 36 km through Ogle, Winnebago and DeKalb 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.
Winnebago County, Illinois — Sugar River is a 23 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.
Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois — Dry Creek is a 21 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.
Boone and Winnebago Counties, Illinois — North Kinnikinnick Creek is a 18 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.
Keith Creek (19 km) flows through Winnebago and Boone 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.
In Boone and Winnebago Counties, Illinois, South Kinnikinnick Creek is a 17 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.
Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois — Willow Creek is a 16 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.
Sumner Creek (14 km) flows through Winnebago and Stephenson 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.
South Branch Otter Creek (16 km) flows through Winnebago and Stephenson 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.
North Fork Kent Creek runs 16 km through Winnebago County, 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.
Coolidge Creek runs 14 km through Winnebago County, 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.
Winnebago and Stephenson Counties, Illinois — North Branch Otter Creek is a 14 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.
Turtle Creek runs 8 km through Winnebago County, 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.
Winnebago and Stephenson Counties, Illinois — Grove Creek is a 12 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.
Winnebago County, Illinois — South Fork Kent Creek is a 12 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 Winnebago and Stephenson Counties, Illinois, Pink Creek is a 4 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.
Raccoon Creek runs 5 km through Winnebago County, 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.
Trimble Run runs 11 km through Boone, DeKalb, Ogle and 1 more county in 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.
Ogle and Winnebago Counties, Illinois — Middle Creek is a 9 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.
Winnebago County, Illinois — Tunnison Creek is a 9 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.
Timothy Creek runs 9 km through Winnebago County, 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.
Across its mapped waters, Winnebago County holds 18 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp, Flathead Catfish, Rock Bass and Freshwater Drum.
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.