JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 TITLE 17: CONSERVATION CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE PART 810 SPORT FISHING REGULATIONS FOR THE WATERS OF ILLINOIS Section 810.5 Definitions 810.10 Sale of Fish and Fishing Seasons − Statewide 810.14 Wanton Waste – Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Mollusks and Crustaceans Abandonment 810.15 Statewide and Site Specific Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods) Regulations 810.20 Snagging 810.25 Trotlines 810.28 Mussels 810.30 Pole and Line Fishing Only (Repealed) 810.35 Statewide Sportfishing (Hook and Line and Other Non-Bowfishing or Non- Snagging Legal Methods Under a Sportfishing License) Regulations – Daily Harvest and Size Limits 810.37 Definitions for Site Specific Sportfishing Regulations (Repealed) 810.40 Daily Harvest and Size Limits (Repealed) 810.45 Site Specific Water Area Regulations 810.50 Bait Fishing 810.60 Bullfrogs (Repealed) 810.70 Free Fishing Days 810.80 Emergency Protective Procedures 810.90 Fishing Tournament Permit 810.100 Bed Protection AUTHORITY: Implementing and authorized by Sections 1-120, 1-125, 1-150, 5-5, 10-5, 10-10, 10-15, 10-20, 10-25, 10-30, 10-35, 10-45, 10-50, 10-60, 10-75, 10-90, 10-95, 15-50, 20-5, 20-35 and 25-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code [515 ILCS 5]. SOURCE: Adopted at 5 Ill. Reg. 751, effective January 8, 1981; codified at 5 Ill. Reg. 10647; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 342, effective December 23, 1981; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 7411, effective June 11, 1982; amended at 7 Ill. Reg. 209, effective December 22, 1982; amended at 8 Ill. Reg. 1564, effective January 23, 1984; amended at 8 Ill. Reg. 16769, effective August 30, 1984; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 2916, effective February 26, 1985; emergency amendment at 9 Ill. Reg. 3825, effective March 13, 1985, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 10, 1985; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 6181, effective April 24, 1985; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 14291, effective September 5, 1985; amended at 10 Ill. Reg. 4835, effective March 6, 1986; amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 4638, effective March 10, 1987; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 5306, effective March 8, 1988; emergency amendment at 12 Ill. Reg. 6981, effective April 4, 1988, for a maximum of 150 JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 days; emergency expired September 1, 1988; emergency amendment at 12 Ill. Reg. 10525, effective June 7, 1988, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired November 4, 1988; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 15982, effective September 27, 1988; amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 8419, effective May 19, 1989; emergency amendment at 13 Ill. Reg. 12643, effective July 14, 1989, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired December 11, 1989; emergency amendment at 13 Ill. Reg. 14085, effective September 4, 1989, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired February 1, 1990; emergency amendment at 13 Ill. Reg. 15118, effective September 11, 1989, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired February 8, 1990; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 6164, effective April 17, 1990; emergency amendment at 14 Ill. Reg. 6865, effective April 17, 1990, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired September 19, 1990; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 8588, effective May 21, 1990; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 16863, effective October 1, 1990; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 4699, effective March 18, 1991; emergency amendment at 15 Ill. Reg. 5430, effective March 27, 1991, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 24, 1991; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 9977, effective June 24, 1991; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 13347, effective September 3, 1991; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 5267, effective March 20, 1992; emergency amendment at 16 Ill. Reg. 6016, effective March 25, 1992, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 22, 1992; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 12526, effective July 28, 1992; amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 3853, effective March 15, 1993; emergency amendment at 17 Ill. Reg. 5915, effective March 25, 1993, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired August 22, 1993; amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 10806, effective July 1, 1993; amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 3277, effective February 28, 1994; emergency amendment at 18 Ill. Reg. 5667, effective March 25, 1994, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 12652, effective August 9, 1994; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 2396, effective February 17, 1995; emergency amendment at 19 Ill. Reg. 5262, effective April 1, 1995, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 10614, effective July 1, 1995; amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 4640, effective March 6, 1996; recodified by changing the agency name from Department of Conservation to Department of Natural Resources at 21 Ill. Reg. 9389; amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 4709, effective April 1, 1997; emergency amendment at 21 Ill. Reg. 5590, effective April 15, 1997, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 12140, effective August 26, 1997; amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 4930, effective March 2, 1998; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 3434, effective March 8, 1999; emergency amendment at 23 Ill. Reg. 7317, effective June 10, 1999, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 8406, effective July 7, 1999; amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 3736, effective February 25, 2000; amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 6296, effective March 26, 2001; emergency amendment at 25 Ill. Reg. 7947, effective June 16, 2001, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency amendment at 25 Ill. Reg. 9912, effective August 1, 2001, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 11386, effective August 14, 2001; emergency amendment at 25 Ill. Reg. 12122, effective September 15, 2001, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 1210, effective January 16, 2002; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 4294, effective March 6, 2002; amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 3376, effective February 14, 2003; amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 4607, effective March 1, 2004; amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 3955, effective February 24, 2005; amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 4810, effective March 1, 2006; amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 3480, effective February 16, 2007; emergency amendment at 31 Ill. Reg. 8265, effective May 25, 2007, for a maximum of 150 days; amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 14432, effective October 5, 2007; amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3302, effective February 25, 2008; amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 5275, effective March 25, 2009; amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 6391, effective April 20, 2010; JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 4011, effective February 22, 2011; amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 5461, effective March 22, 2012; amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 6658, effective May 1, 2013; amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 16426, effective October 3, 2013; emergency amendment at 38 Ill. Reg. 13022, effective June 9, 2014, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired November 5, 2014; amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 6517, effective April 27, 2015; amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 6000, effective March 25, 2016; amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 4006, effective March 24, 2017; amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 7773, effective April 20, 2018; amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 3399, effective February 27, 2019; amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 3916, effective February 26, 2020; amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1898, effective January 27, 2021; amended at 47 Ill. Reg. ______, effective January 30, 2023. Section 810.5 Definitions Aquatic life – all fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, algae, aquatic plants and aquatic invertebrates, and any other aquatic animals or plants that the Department identifies in administrative rules. Catch and Release Fishing – no harvest of target fish species permitted. Caught fish must be returned to the water immediately unharmed. Fishing – taking or attempting to take aquatic life in any waters of the State, by any method, and all other acts such as placing, setting, drawing or using any device commonly used for the taking of aquatic life, whether resulting in taking or not. This also applies to the removal of dead and decaying aquatic life. Harvest – any aquatic life taken into possession from any waters of the State by any method. In the aggregate – combination of two or more species or hybrids that in total do not exceed the daily harvest limit. Protected Slot Length Limit – No harvest of fish within the specified length range. Fish must be immediately released. Relic Mussel Shell – the shell of a mussel that apparently died of natural causes in the water and contains no meat or soft parts. The shell readily exhibits noticeable sediment, vegetation, algal or mineral stains, discolorations, soiling, weathering or other visual evidence on its interior surface that clearly and unambiguously shows the mussel shell has not been cooked-out or freshly cleaned. Snagging – the practice of dragging or jerking a hook (or hooks), baited or unbaited, through the water with the intention of hooking a fish on contact anywhere on the body other than the inside of the mouth. JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 Take – to lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or ensnare, or attempt to do so. Water of the State – any water within the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois that is adapted for purposes of navigation or public access. > − symbol means "greater than". ≥ − symbol means "greater than or equal to". < − symbol means "less than". ≤ − symbol means "less than or equal to". (Source: Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. ______, effective January 30, 2023) Section 810.10 Sale of Fish and Fishing Seasons − Statewide a) No fish or parts thereof (including eggs) taken by sport fishing methods (including snagging) may be bought, sold or bartered. b) Lake Michigan – The sport fishing season for rainbow smelt shall be from March 1 to April 30. c) It is unlawful to fish within 250 yards of an occupied duck or goose blind on Department-owned or -managed sites during the migratory waterfowl season. d) Lake Michigan, Calumet River, and the Chicago River including its North Branch, South Branch, and the North Shore Channel – the sport fishing harvest for yellow perch shall not be permitted from May 1 through June 15 annually. (Source: Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 6517, effective April 27, 2015) Section 810.14 Wanton Waste – Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Mollusks and Crustaceans Abandonment a) Except as provided in this Section, it is unlawful for any person at any time to take or possess any fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans authorized by this Part in Illinois waters by sportfishing methods and then intentionally leave or abandon such fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or portions thereof resulting in wanton or needless waste. b) "Wanton or needless waste" means to place, leave, dump or abandon any fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean parts protected by this Part along or upon any public right- JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 of-way or highway, waterway or stream, or on any public or private property without the permission of the owner or tenant. No disposal of fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean portions shall be allowed on State owned or leased properties except at designated fish cleaning stations, where available. c) This Section shall not apply to fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans or fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk or crustacean parts used for the purposes of bait or other lawful purposes or to injurious species of fish that accidentally jump into a watercraft and are immediately returned to the water. (Source: Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 3399, effective February 27, 2019) Section 810.15 Statewide and Site Specific Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods) Regulations a) Legal Methods of Taking Aquatic life, as listed by species in subsection (b), may be taken by means of legal bowfishing devices, including a pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, spear or gig. A valid sport fishing license is required for taking aquatic life under this Section. Aquatic life taken by these means shall not be sold or bartered. No other aquatic life (e.g., fish, amphibian or reptile species) may be taken in this State by these means. b) Species Only fish, amphibian and reptile species listed may be taken by bowfishing and other legal methods and in accordance with harvest limits identified for each. Fish, amphibian and reptile species permitted to be taken by bowfishing and other archery/spear fishing legal methods in Illinois waters include: 1) Order Petromyzontiformes Family Petromyzontidae (Non-Native Species): Sea lamprey – Petromyzon marinus (Linnaeus) 2) Order Lepisosteiformes Family Lepisosteidae (Native Species): Spotted gar − Lepisosteus oculatus (Winchell) Longnose gar – Lepisosteus osseus (Linnaeus) JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 Shortnose gar – Lepisosteus platostomus (Rafinesque) Alligator Gar – Atractosteus spatula (Lacepede) native 3) Order Amiiformes Family Amiidae (Native Species): Bowfin – Amia calva (Linnaeus) 4) Order Clupeiformes Family Clupeidae (Native Species): Gizzard shad – Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur) 5) Order Cypriniformes Family Cyprinidae (Non-Native Species): Grass carp − Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes) Common carp − Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) Silver carp − Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) Bighead carp − Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson) Goldfish − Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) Black carp – Mylopharyngodon piceus Family Cobitidae (Non-Native Species): Oriental weatherfish – Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor) Family Catostomidae (Native Species): River carpsucker − Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque) Quillback carpsucker − Carpiodes cyprinus (Lesueur) Highfin carpsucker − Carpiodes velifer (Rafinesque) JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 White sucker − Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede) Blue sucker − Cycleptus elongates (Lesueur) Smallmouth buffalo − Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque) Bigmouth buffalo − Ictiobus cyprinellus (Valenciennes) Black buffalo − Ictiobus niger (Rafinesque) Spotted sucker − Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque) Silver redhorse − Moxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque) Black redhorse − Moxostoma duquesnei (Lesueur) Golden redhorse − Moxostoma erythrurum (Rafinesque) Shorthead redhorse − Moxostoma macrolepidotum (Lesueur) 6) Order Characiformes Family Serrasalmidae (Non-Native Species): Pacu – Callisoma spp. (Eigenmann and Kennedy) 7) Order Siluriformes Family Ictaluridae (Native Species): Channel catfish – Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) Blue catfish – Ictalurus furcatus (Lesueur) Flathead catfish – Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque) Yellow bullhead – Ameiurus natalis (Lesueur) Brown bullhead – Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur) Black bullhead – Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque) Family Ictaluridae (Non-Native Species): JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 White catfish – Ameiurus catus (Linnaeus) 8) Order Perciformes Family Scianidae (Native Species): Freshwater drum – Aplodinotus grunniens (Rafinesque) 9) Order Cichliformes Family Cichlidae (Non-Native Species): Tilapia – Tilapia spp. (Smith) 10) Order Gobbiformes Family Gobiidae (Non-Native Species): Round goby – Neogobius malanistomus (Pallas) 11) Order Anabantiformes Family Channidae (Non-Native Species): Northern snakehead – Channa argus (Cantor) 12) Order Anura Family Ranidae (Native Species): American bullfrog – Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw) 13) Order Testudines Family Chelydridae (Native Species): Common snapping turtle – Chelydra serpentine (Linnaeus) c) Non-Native Fish Species No live possession of non-native fish species listed in subsection (b) is permitted, with the exception of common carp and goldfish. d) Waters Open to Bowfishing and Other Legal Archery and Spearfishing Methods JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 1) Illinois waters open to bowfishing and other legal methods include all public rivers and streams noted in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 3704.Appendix A, except as restricted by subsections (d)(3) through (14). 2) All public site specific waters as noted in Section 810.45. 3) Catfish species may only be taken in rivers and connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters (see list in Section 810.15) as noted in subsections (d)(4) through (15). 4) Mississippi River connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters, including that portion of the Kaskaskia River below the navigation lock and dam, except: A) Quincy Bay, including Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Area. B) Spring Lake in the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. C) Mark Twain U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge Waters (except by special permit). 5) Illinois River and connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters from Route 89 highway bridge downstream, except for: A) U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Refuge Waters. B) Meredosia Lake in Cass and Morgan Counties during the central zone duck season. C) Clear Lake in Mason County 7 days prior to and during the central zone duck season. D) Route 89 highway bridge to Starved Rock Dam for the commercial removal of Asian carp only by a limited number of restricted period contracts. 6) Wabash River. 7) Embarras River. 8) Sangamon River, downstream of Belt Route 48 southwest of Decatur to mouth in Cass County. JANUARY 30, 2023 17 ILL. ADM. CODE CH. I, SEC. 810 9) Kaskaskia River south of Route U.S. 50 Bridge to mouth in Randolph County. 10) Little Wabash River. 11) Big Muddy River. 12) Skillet Fork. 13) Cache River from Route 51 downstream to the Mississippi River via Cache Diversion Channel, but not including that portion of the Cache River between the Cache Diversion Channel Levee and the Ohio River. 14) Saline River in Gallatin and Saline Counties. 15) Ohio River, except for: A) Olmstead Locks and Dam downstream to a line perpendicular with the end of the longest lock wall, including the circular cell portion. B) Smithland Dam downstream to a line perpendicular to the end of the outer lock wall. C) Within 50 yards of the mouth of any tributary or stream. e) Bowfishing for common snapping turtles is not permitted in the following Illinois counties: Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Saline, Williamson, Jackson, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski and Alexander. (Source: Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. ______, effective January 30, 2023) Section 810.20 Snagging a) Sport fishermen are permitted only one pole and line device to which can be attached no more than two hooks. On the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, the maximum treble hook size is 5/0; gaffs may not be used to land paddlefish. b) Species of Fish and Snagging Catch Limit 1) Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging: