Ohio River - Open River
Info / Counties: Alexander, Pulaski
Family Friendly
No
Handicap Access
No
Boat Fishing
Yes
Boat Ramps
Yes
Boat Rentals
No
Camping
No
Picnicking
No
Skiing
Yes
Swimming
Yes
Trout Stocking
No
Zebra Mussels
Location 23000 acres
Contact
Description
The Illinois portion of the Ohio River begins at the mouth of the Wabash River near Uniontown, Kentucky and flows 133 miles to its confluence with the Mississippi River at Fort Defiance. This portion of the Ohio is made up of two lock and dams with two river pools and an open river area. The pool areas, embayments, and open river areas provide diverse habitats, which provide for excellent fishing opportunities. Over 150 different species of fish have been recorded from the Ohio River with many of these being sport species. The river level is regulated by the Army Corps of Engineers for navigation and has a navigation channel marked by buoys running its entire length. Water depths in the channel run from 9 to 90 feet.Fishery History
The Ohio River has an excellent sport fishery, which does and will continue to provide many angling opportunities to the Illinois angler. Please be aware of the consumption advisory on this portion of the Ohio River.
The open river areas provide anglers opportunities to catch Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, and White Bass.
Site Regulations
- Alligator Gar: Catch and release fishing only
- Blue and Flathead Catfish: 13 inch minimum length limit; no daily limit for fish greater than or equal to 13 inches and less than 35 inches; 1 fish daily limit for fish greater than or equal to 35 inches
- Channel Catfish: 13 inch minimum length limit; no daily limit for fish greater than or equal to 13 inches and less than 28 inches; 1 fish daily limit for fish greater than or equal to 28 inches
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 12 inch minimum length
- Muskellunge or Tiger Muskie: 36 inch minimum length limit; 1 fish daily limit
- Northern Pike: 24 inch minimum length limit; 3 fish daily limit
- Redear Sunfish: 20 fish daily limit
- Rock Bass: 15 fish daily limit
- Striped, White, Yellow, or Hybrid Striped Bass: 30 fish daily limit, singly or in the aggregate, with no more than 4 fish greater than or equal to 15 inches
- Walleye, Sauger, or Hybrid Walleye: 14 inches minimum length limit; 6 fish daily limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 20 fish daily limit
Additional Information
Fishing License:
Officers of Illinois and Kentucky will recognize and accept valid sport fishing licenses of either state on the main stem and from the banks of the Ohio River, excluding embayments and tributaries. Embayments and tributaries shall be defined as a straight line between opposite points where the tributary or embayment connects with the main body of the Ohio River.
The fishing regulations adopted by the state issuing a sport fishing license apply to the licenses when fishing each state’s respective waters, except that, all fishermen shall conform with the regulations of the state in which they are fishing, unless the regulations of the fishermen’s licensing state are more restrictive, then the fishermen must conform with the more restrictive regulations. The regulations of the state where the sport fishing is occurring apply, if the licensee is fishing from the bank. Wildlife law enforcement officials of either state shall have the right to inspect the licenses, harvest limits, creel limits, and equipment of any person on the Ohio River subject to the laws of either state.