Rock River - Steel Dam Tailwaters
Info / Rock Island County
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
No
Boat Ramps
No
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
No
Swimming
No
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
None
Location 350 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 Steel Dam Tailwaters (RRT). The Steel Dam Tailwaters section is approximately 4 river miles in length (360 surface acres) from the confluence with the Mississippi River to the Steel Dam in Milan. The Sears Dam, a former hydropower site, enters this section approximately halfway to the confluence with the Mississippi River. The Sears Dam impounds a side channel of the Rock River that is included in the Milan Pool section. The small tributary stream to enter this section is Mill Creek.
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.
Steel Dam Tailwaters (RRT):
Black Crappie - Black Crappie were collected in 1 of the 2 survey years in this section at a low collection rate of 2.3 fish per hour. These fish ranged from 9 to 11 inches in length.
Bluegill - Bluegill were collected in 1 of the 2 survey years from this section with a collection rate of 12 fish per hour in 2025. These ranged from 5 to 7 inches in length.
Channel Catfish - Channel Catfish were collected in every survey from this section with an average collection rate of 41 fish per hour and a total of 81 fish. These fish ranged in size from 14 to 27 inches with 53% of stock size fish over 18 inches in length. The body condition rating was good with the average Wr values over 95.
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 not collected in the 2 surveys from this section of the river. A low-density Largemouth Bass population is present in the Rock River. The rocky habitat and stream flow favors the Smallmouth Bass population.
Muskellunge - No Muskellunge were sampled in this section during any of the survey years. A low-density Muskellunge population is found in the Rock River from fish that have escaped from stocked lakes in the watershed.
Northern Pike – No Northern Pike have been sampled in this section in any of the survey years. A low-density Northern Pike population is found in the Rock River and is supported by natural reproduction.
Rock Bass – No Rock Bass have been sampled in this section in any of the survey years. A low-density Rock Bass population is found in the Rock River and is supported by natural reproduction.
Sauger – Sauger were collected in both surveys from this section with an average collection rate of 16 fish per hour and a total of 34 fish. These fish ranged in size from 10 to 18 inches with 24% of 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 both surveys from this section with an average collection rate of 2 fish per hour and a total of 5 fish. These fish ranged in size from 9 to 15 inches with 15% of stock size fish over 14 inches in length, 0% 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 both surveys from this section with an average collection rate of 23 fish per hour and a total of 53 fish. These fish ranged in size from 9 to 27 inches with 92% of the stock size fish over 15 inches in length, 76% over 18 inches in length. The body condition rating was good with the average Wr values over 95. 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 both survey years from this section at an average collection rate of 9 fish per hour. These fish ranged from 9 to 15 inches in length.
White Crappie – White Crappie were not collected in either off the 2 survey years in this section.
Yellow Perch - Yellow Perch were not collected in any of the survey years in this section.
Site Regulations
From the Sears and Steel Dam downstream to the Confluence with the Mississippi River:
Walleye: 15-inch minimum Length Limit; Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches. The daily harvest limit is 6 Walleye or Sauger with no more than 1 Walleye greater than or equal to 27 inches.
Additional Information
The state endangered Lake Sturgeon has been surveyed in this section of the Rock River.Other
