Illinois Smallmouth Fishing Access

Access to open water is a smally issue

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Access is the main hurdle facing anglers who want to fish for smallmouth bass in Illinois streams and rivers. Of the state's 33,000 miles of canoeable streams, less than 8 percent are open to public use.

To legally access the rest, you most obtain permission from landowners on both sides of the stream.

Spoon River is considered a public body up to one-half mile upstream of the Illinois Route 95 bridge in Fulton County near Smithfield. The stretch we fished and nearly all the best smallmouth waters are located above that and technically require landowner permission.

Streams in Illinois that anglers and canoers can access without permission include: Illinois River (including all backwater lakes); Mississippi River (including all backwater lakes); Rock River; Pecatonica River; Sugar River in Winnebago County; Kankakee River; Fox River; Sangamon River (to one mile south of the Mechanisburg Road bridge); Ohio River; Wabash River.

Notably absent from that list is the Mackinaw River, one of the area's top smally rivers.

- Jeff Lampe