Rock River - Oregon Pool
Info / Counties: Ogle, Winnebago
Family Friendly
Yes
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
Yes
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
None
Location 1866 acres
The Rock River arises in Washington County, Wisconsin and enters Illinois near Rockton, IL. It flows in a general southwesterly direction for approximately 165 miles before entering the Mississippi River near Rock Island, IL. The river drains 10,280 square miles, with about ½ of this area in Illinois. After the confluence with the Pecatonica River near Rockton, the Rock River is a 7th order stream.
The Illinois portion of the river has major population centers at Rockford, Byron, Oregon, Dixon, Sterling/Rock Falls, and Rock Island. The remainder of the Illinois portion of the basin is primarily agricultural. Three major tributaries enter the Rock River in Illinois: 1) The Pecatonica River with a drainage area of 2,641 square miles enters the Rock River near Rockton, 2) the Kishwaukee River with a drainage area of 1,257 miles enters just south of Rockford, and 3) the Green River with a drainage area of 1,131 square miles enters the Rock River almost at the mouth of the river near the Quad Cities. The main-stem has low-head dams at Rockton, Rockford, Oregon, Dixon, 2 at Sterling/ Rock Falls, and a split dam at Milan.
IDNR Fisheries uses designated pool sections formed by these low-head dams as a descriptive function and as a fish management unit. Each of these designated pool sections have their own unique habitat and water quality features that affect the fishery within these pools. The connectivity for the fish populations in the Rock River allows for unlimited downstream emigration with very limited upstream immigration over these low-head dams.
Contact
IDNR Region 1 Streams Biologist
Jubilee College State Park 13921 West Route 150 Brimfield, IL 61517
Send Message
309-370-5296
Description
The Oregon Pool section (RRO). The Oregon Pool section is approximately 27 river miles in length (1,866 surface acres) from the Oregon Dam to the Fordham Dam in Rockford, Illinois. The small tributary streams that enter this section are Mud Creek, Silver Creek, Spring Creek, Leaf River, Mill Creek, Stillman Creek, and Kent Creek. The Oregon Pool section also has a major tributary stream addition of the Kishwaukee River. The Kishwaukee River Basin covers an area of approximately 1,218 square miles spanning seven counties in northern Illinois, including parts of Boone, McHenry, Kane, DeKalb, Ogle, and small parts of Lee and Winnebago counties. The mainstem of the Kishwaukee River is approximately 63 miles in length and empties into the Rock River about 3 miles south of Rockford, Illinois.
Fishery History
The Rock River was sampled each fall from 2020 through 2025 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Region 1 Fisheries crew. The purpose was to collect and evaluate the sport fish populations in the Illinois section of the Rock River. State endangered and State threatened fish species were also collected and documented with the surveys.
Oregon Pool section (RRO):
Black Crappie – Black Crappie were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 2.8 fish per hour. These fish ranged from 3 to 12 inches in length.
Bluegill - Bluegill were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 10 fish per hour. These ranged from 4 to 8 inches in length.
Channel Catfish - Channel Catfish were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 22 fish per hour and a total of 375 fish. These fish ranged in size from 4 to 26 inches with 60% of the stock size fish over 18 inches in length. The body condition rating was good with the average Wr values over 90.
Flathead Catfish – Flathead Catfish are not effectively sampled during cold water boat electrofishing surveys. Hoop net or warm water boat electrofishing surveys will be utilized in the future to evaluate the Rock River Flathead Catfish population.
Largemouth Bass – Largemouth Bass were collected in every survey from this section with a low collection rate of 4 fish per hour. These fish ranged in size from 4 to 17 inches in length. A low-density Largemouth Bass population is present in the Rock River. The rocky habitat and stream flow favors the Smallmouth Bass population.
Muskellunge - Muskellunge have been sampled in this section in all 6 of the survey years. These fish ranged in size from 32 to 41 inches in length. A low-density Muskellunge population is found in the Rock River from fish that have escaped from stocked lakes in the watershed.
Northern Pike – Northern Pike have been sampled in this section in all the survey years. These fish ranged in size from 11 to 37 inches in length. A low-density Northern Pike population is found in the Rock River and is supported by natural reproduction.
Rock Bass – Rock Bass have been sampled in this section in all the survey years. These fish ranged in size from 4 to 9 inches in length. A low-density Rock Bass population is found in the Rock River and is supported by natural reproduction.
Sauger – Sauger were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 3 fish per hour and a total of 52 fish. These fish ranged in size from 7 to 18 inches with 40% of the stock size fish over 15 inches in length. The body condition rating was good with the average Wr values over 90. A low-density Sauger population is found in the Rock River and is supported by natural reproduction.
Smallmouth Bass – Smallmouth Bass were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 48 fish per hour and a total of 848 fish. These fish ranged in size from 3 to 20 inches with 17% of the stock size fish over 14 inches in length, 2% over 17 inches in length. The body condition rating was good with the average Wr values over 90. A high-density Smallmouth Bass population is found in the Rock River and is supported by natural reproduction.
Walleye – Walleye were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 16 fish per hour and a total of 288 fish. These fish ranged in size from 5 to 29 inches with 52% of the stock size fish over 15 inches in length, 16% over 18 inches in length. The body condition rating was good with the average Wr values over 90. A moderate-density Walleye population is found in the Rock River and is supported by stocking and natural reproduction.
White Bass – White Bass were collected in every survey from this section at an average low collection rate of 2 fish per hour. These fish ranged from 4 to 13 inches in length.
White Crappie – White Crappie were collected in 2 of the 6 survey years in this section at a low collection rate of .9 fish per hour. These fish ranged from 2 to 9 inches in length.
Yellow Perch – Yellow Perch were collected in all the survey years in this section at a low collection rate of 1.2 fish per hour. These fish ranged from 3 to 9 inches in length.
Site Regulations
Rock River Fishing Regulations as of 2026:
From the Wisconsin State Line downstream to the Confluence with the Mississippi River, including tributaries:
Smallmouth Bass: 14-inch minimum Length Limit with a daily harvest limit of 3 fish. All Smallmouth Bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15th.
Additional Information
The state-threatened River Redhorse and American Brook Lamprey have been surveyed in this section.Other
