Illinois River - Peoria Pool

Bluegill

Good

Bluegill and other sunfish catch rates were high in the Peoria Pool in 2025 with (107/hour electrofishing). Sunfish catch rates also show an increasing trend over the last ten years in the Peoria Pool. Many bluegill collected were of harvestable size between 6-7 inches and provide an excellent fishing opportunity for anglers of all ages. Anglers can catch bluegill in the warmer months of the year using worms, crickets, or night crawlers along structured shorelines, such as rip-rap.

Smallmouth Bass

Good

Smallmouth bass catch rates show an increasing trend over the last 10 years in the Peoria Pool. About 14 smallmouth bass per hour of electrofishing were collected in the Peoria Pool annual survey, which is above average for this pool. Smallmouth bass ranged from 3-18 inches and weighed up to 3.4 pounds. There is a 12 inch minimum length limit and 6 fish per day creel limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass to allow for bass to spawn once or twice prior to being harvested. Contaminant advisories have been removed for consumption of largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Peoria Pool. Side channels, shallow water with structure, marinas and rip-rap are the places to fish for river bass in the Peoria Pool.

Largemouth Bass

Good

The 2025 fish community survey resulted in a catch rate of 27 largemouth bass/hour of electrofishing with fish ranging in size between 3-16 inches weighing up to 2.8 pounds. The Peoria Pool had the second highest largemouth bass catch rate out of all pools in 2025 after the Starved Rock Pool. The 2025 survey resulted in a catch rate of 8.7 smallmouth bass/hour of electrofishing with fish measuring up to 16 inches and weighing up to 2 pounds. About 22% of the largemouth bass collected measured over the 12 inch minimum length limit. Contaminant advisories have been removed for consumption of largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Peoria Pool. Side channels, shallow water with structure, marinas and rip-rap are the places to fish for river bass in the Peoria Pool.

Crappie spp.

Good

Both black crappie and white crappie are present in the Peoria Pool, but black crappie are more abundant. Crappie catch rates were average in 2025 with a catch rate of 5/hour electrofishing and show and increasing trend over the last 10 years. Backwaters, side channels and main channel border areas with submerged brush are the best locations to fish for crappie.

Channel Catfish

Excellent

Channel catfish are one of the primary game fish of the Illinois River. They are very abundant in the quality – preferred size of 16-24 inch size range and fish over 24 inches weighing 7 - 10 pounds are common. A targeted hoop net survey was conducted in the upper Peoria Pool in 2023. Channel catfish catch rates were high and resulted in 252 fish collected ranging from 13–30 inches weighing up to 13 pounds. Peoria Pool channel catfish catch rates were the highest out of all pools surveyed in the 2025 electrofishing survey with 10.9 collected/hr electrofishing ranging from 13-25 inches and up to 7.5 pounds. Notable habitats for channel catfish are main channel border (area between the navigation channel and the river bank) and side channels with current. The Chillicothe, Lacon and Henry areas and the Peoria Narrows are notable channel catfish reaches. PCB contamination in fish is a remnant of past pollution that is declining. The contaminant advisory recommends no more than 1 meal/week for channel catfish less than 14 inches and no more than 1 meal/month for those over 14 inches. Advisories are developed to protect infants, children, and women of child bearing age. Trim the fat, particularly around the belly, and allow fat to drip off the fish when cooking to minimize exposure to PCBs.

Flathead Catfish

Excellent

Flathead catfish are abundant in the Peoria Pool and trophy-sized fish exceeding 36 inches and 30 pounds can be found. Flatheads between 28 and 36 inches are not uncommon. The 2023 targeted hoop net survey resulted in 31 flathead catfish collected ranging from 15-35 inches and weighing up to 24 pounds. The Peoria Pool ranked second next to the Alton Pool in the 2025 electrofishing survey for highest flathead catches with eight collected per hour of electrofishing. Catch rates of flathead catfish were also the highest in the Peoria Pool in 2025 out of the last ten years. Fish the deep holes, main channel border near current breaks, and woody debris piles or other structure for flatheads.

Sauger

Excellent

Sauger and walleye are most dense in the upper end of the Peoria Pool, with sauger being more abundant. The Illinois sauger fishery is a world class fishery bringing anglers from all over the country to fish the national Masters Walleye Circuit in Spring Valley. The IDNR – Division of Fisheries State Hatcheries annually stock sauger fry in the Peoria Pool and upper pools of the Illinois River to supplement the population. Sauger and walleye are typically found in deep waters during the day, but search for food in the shallows of the main channel border at night. This behavior results in poor day-time electrofishing catch rates of adult sauger and walleye. The 2025 electrofishing survey resulted in 5.8 sauger/hour and one walleye/hour electrofishing ranging in size from 7-16 inches. The Peoria Pool had the highest catch rate of both sauger and walleye out of all pools surveyed in 2025.