I & M Canal
Location 164 acres
Fishing Outlook
Flathead Catfish
Fair
Flathead Catfish have historically been found at the Aux Sable lock area.
Channel Catfish
Average
Channel Catfish have historically been found at the Channahon Access as well as the Aux Sable Lock and the Morris area. Lock 14 pool is also a good bet due to the annual stocking program. Site Regulation: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit.
Bluegill
Fair
This Bluegill population could be classified as fair at best, generally dominated by smaller individuals. Larger Bluegills are more commonly caught by ice anglers. Best areas include the Morris section and Lock 14.
Redear Sunfish
Developing
Found at Lock 14, Redear Sunfish numbers have historically waxed and waned. The 2024 survey did not result in many collected.
Largemouth Bass
Average
Although Largemouth Bass can be found throughout the Canal, the best area at the present time is the Lock 14 section in LaSalle. Bass up to 4 pounds are possible, though the 2024 collection was greatly diminished possibly due to sampling bias caused by extensive vegetation coverage. Site Regulation: 15" Minimum Length Limit.
Smallmouth Bass
Average
Smallmouth Bass have been more commonly found in the area near the Channahon feeder and below the Aux Sable lock. Site Regulation: 15" Minimum Length Limit.
Crappie spp.
Poor
Both species of Crappie can be found in the Canal. Large crappies are not common, but fish in excess of ten inches have been collected during IDNR sampling. The Canalport Park Access in Morris and Lock 14 provides the best opportunity for these species.
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 2754 |
| 2024 | Redear Sunfish | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 1376 |
Contact
815-942-6529
Description
With construction commencing in 1836 and taking 12 years to complete, the Illinois and Michigan (I & M) Canal stretched 96 miles linking the Great Lakes to the Illinois River. The canal was the impetus for the settlement and development of much of Northeast Illinois and is rich in history. The I & M Canal was originally hand-dug to depths of 6 to 8 feet and time has degraded much of the canal and portions have little or no water flow. Those that do are marginal in terms of supporting viable fish populations.Fishery History
To monitor the fish population, a full fisheries survey of selected areas of the canal is conducted once every 2 years (most notably Lock 14 in LaSalle and the stretch along Calhoun Street in Morris). Aquatic vegetation is treated in Lock 14 every spring to control Eurasian Milfoil, Curlyleaf Pondweed, and filamentous algae which would otherwise make angling extremely difficult. The I & M Canal supports a variety of fish species with better angling opportunities available near Channahon, the Aux Sable lock, Calhoun Street, and Lock 14 in LaSalle. The Nettle Creek aqueduct was damaged in 2013 and caused dewatering of the canal west of the aqueduct. This also impacted the feeder system for Gebhard Woods and those ponds have been dewatered. Catchable-sized Rainbow Trout are released in the spring and fall in the Lock 14 pool in LaSalle and catchable-size Hybrid Sunfish and Channel Catfish are stocked at Lock 14 in conjunction with an annual children's fishing event in June.Site Regulations
Boat access is limited and only electric trolling motors are allowed.
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Trout: Fall Closed Season; Spring Closed Season; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit