Boasting several outstanding catfish lakes and access to some of the most iconic big cat rivers in America, Illinois is an exceptional state for catfish fishing.
Channel, flathead and blue catfish are all available in Illinois waters. The latter species are capable of topping 100 pounds, but channel catfish make up for their smaller size with abundance and willingness to bite.
Catfish fishing in Illinois often peaks during summer, and the best bite is often after dark. That being said, many of the best catfish rivers and lakes offer great fishing from spring through fall.
Best Catfish Rivers in Illinois
Mississippi River
No body of water in America is more synonymous with catfish than the Mississippi River. This core artery of the Midwest forms Illinois’ entire western border—a distance greater than 575 miles—and offers incredible catfish angling opportunities along the way.
The Mississippi River presents an overwhelming amount of water. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll draw an imaginary line a few miles below the confluence of the Illinois River in Alton.
Above that line, a series of navigational dams breaks the river into 14 pools. Below the line, the Mississippi River is free-flowing all the way to the southern tip of the state, where it merges with the Ohio River in Cairo, Illinois.
Let’s start with the upper half. Channel catfish are abundant in each Mississippi River pool, but anglers could make strong cases that Pool 13 and Pool 15 are the best. Both offer an abundance of backwaters and sloughs that serve as breeding grounds for channel cats.
Most channel catfish weigh 1 to 3 pounds, but fish up to 8 pounds are fairly common. Chicken livers and stink baits are usually the baits of choice for channel cats.
The Illinois DNR’s handy Upper Mississippi River Fishing Guide includes maps of each pool.
As great as the fishing can be in the upper part of the Mississippi River in Illinois, the lower part is even better. Catfish are abundant throughout this stretch, which has plenty of riprap channel banks, side channels, wing dams, bridge pilings, and other structures.
The tailwater below the Melvin Price Lock and Dam at Alton is one of the best spots to fish. Channel cats readily gobble up cut shad below the dam, while big flatheads are known to engulf whole live bluegill.
The lower Mississippi River in Illinois is also the best area to target blue catfish, which reach truly goliath proportions here. A 124-pound blue cat caught near Alton in 2005 was the world record for a time. (That fish is still a state record.)
For big blue catfish, fish in areas where the bottom drops down from a shallow flat to a deep channel. Wing dams are also productive, as the current going around them creates deep scour holes on the bottom.
Public access on the lower Mississippi in Illinois is somewhat limited compared to areas farther upriver, but Chouteau Island is a good spot for bank fishing. Some excellent bank and boat access sites are also on the Missouri side.
Ohio River
The Ohio River borders 133 miles of Illinois, from the mouth of the Wabash River near Uniontown, Kentucky, to its confluence with the Mississippi River at Fort Defiance. There are some incredible catfish fishing opportunities here.
The Smithland Pool, which stretches 72 miles above the Smithland Lock and Dam, makes up a little over half of this length and is especially known for its abundant catfish populations. The Old Shawneetown area is a particular favorite among catfish anglers.
There’s ample bank access in Old Shawneetown and a boat ramp directly across the river on the Kentucky side. One of the first things you’ll notice in old Shawneetown is the riverside grain elevators, where grain is loaded onto barges to be shipped up and down the river.
Some grain inevitably spills into the Ohio River, attracting swarms of channel catfish. You can apply this rule anywhere you see barges being loaded with grain on the river. Try anchoring along the channel and casting toward the grain elevators.
The Smithland Pool also has numerous embayments on the Illinois side, which are smaller tributaries impounded when the dam was built. They’re great areas to fish for catfish, especially when they spawn in early summer.
The tailwater below the Smithland Dam is also a popular area. The newly constructed Olmsted Dam provides similar conditions a few miles farther down the river. Farther still, the Mound City area offers some more grain elevator fishing opportunities.
If it’s big blue catfish you’re after, look for them in deep areas, including washouts below the dam tailwaters, edges of the main river channel, drop-offs along the river islands, and scour holes below wing dams. Large cut bait made from skipjack herring is the most effective offering.
Flatheads are also common, many of them weighing 20 pounds or more. Try hooking a live bluegill and tossing it around fallen trees near the bank or the eddies at the ends of wing dams.
The Olmsted River View and Access offers bank fishing and boat ramps on the lower part of the river below the Olmsted Dam.
The Smithland Ramp in Kentucky is the best launch point for fishing the Smithland Dam tailwater.
Illinois River
Cutting a diagonal path across the heart of Illinois, the Illinois River begins at the convergence of the Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers just outside of Chicago. From there, it flows all the way to the Mississippi River north of Alton.
Though the Illinois River can’t match the Mississippi or the Ohio for trophy catfish, it holds its own when it comes to numbers. Channel catfish are abundant throughout the river, and anglers catch some impressive flatheads here too.
Blue cats are less common in the Illinois River. But some are caught in its lowest pool, which extends 80 miles from the tailwater of the La Grange Lock and Dam down to the Illinois River’s confluence with the Mississippi. Surveys suggest that their numbers are increasing.
Locks and dams divide the Illinois River into eight pools, each taking the name of the dam that impounds it. Most pools have swift water and rocky bottoms at their upper ends, and more lake-like conditions with slack current and soft substrate at their lower ends.
Both environments offer excellent catfish angling.
If it’s big flathead catfish you’re after, the best bet is the La Grange Pool, which stretches about 77 miles from the Peoria Lock and Dam down to the La Grange Lock and Dam.
Anglers land flatheads up to 30 pounds on live baitfish around deep holes with woody debris. The La Grange Pool contains many backwater lakes and sloughs, where catfish often feed after dark.
Bank and boat access is available in Beardstown, Havana, and Pekin, among others.
Farther up the river, the Peoria and Starved Rock Pools are favorites for channel cats.
Fish weighing over 7 pounds are common, and the best fishing is usually within the main channel border—the area between the river bank and the navigation channel.
Smaller side channels can also be productive, especially if they have some current.
During spring, when the river rises, channel cats invade shallow flooded areas, providing some of the year’s best fishing.
Starved Rock State Park, which overlooks the Starved Rock Dam, offers access to both the Peoria and Starved Rock pools. The stump field just above the dam is one of the most reliable spots for channel catfish.
The Illinois River is also one of the state’s best white bass fisheries, and these pan-sized fish are great for cut bait or making another tasty meal besides your catfish fry.
Best Catfish Lakes in Illinois
Rend Lake
One of Illinois’ most reliable catfish factories, Rend Lake is a massive reservoir that spans 18,900 acres in the southern part of the state. There may be no other lake in Illinois that produces more channel cats.
The best tactics and locations vary by season, but Rend Lake is a place where an angler can usually count on catching catfish on any given day. Channel cats weighing 1 to 3 pounds are incredibly abundant, and 5- to 9-pound fish are not uncommon.
As a general rule, the best catfish angling is in the upper half of the reservoir, above the Highway 154 bridge. Fishing around the bridge itself can be excellent, and coves like Gun Creek are usually reliable.
Nightcrawlers are the bait of choice when the water is cool, but cut shad and stink baits are summer favorites. Raw shrimp are used by many local anglers, along with chicken livers and even chunks of hot dogs.
In springtime, look for catfish in submerged timber and around drop-offs near creek channels, points, and the main lake islands.
Channel cats spawn in May and June, and focusing on riprap can be very productive this time of year. The entire Highway 154 crossing is lined with the stuff.
In summer, channel cats cruise flats in Rend Lake’s creeks and coves. Dragging a bait along the bottom with a hefty 1-ounce sinker is a good tactic, but some days it’s better to let it drift. There are also monster flatheads in the lake, including some that approach 50 pounds.
More than a dozen boat ramps dot Rend Lake’s 162-mile shoreline. Access facilities include a variety of state lands and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas.
The Nason and Waltonville access sites are great places to launch or fish from the bank at the upper end of the lake’s western fork.
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area is another excellent option, offering camping, boat ramps and ample bank access.
If you’re looking for a fishing lake where you can bring home plenty of fish fillets, Rend Lake is not just a catfish hotspot but also a top Midwest crappie fishing lake.
More: Complete Guide to Rend Lake Fishing
Carlyle Lake
By most estimations, Carlyle Lake is second only to Rend Lake when it comes to consistently cranking out tremendous numbers of catfish. And much like Rend Lake, channel catfish are the most abundant species, but there are some serious flatheads here too.
Carlyle Lake is the largest reservoir in Illinois at 24,580 acres. Most of the lake is less than 20 feet deep, but it also has a distinct river channel that is easy to trace as it meanders across the bottom of the lake.
Catfish are widely distributed, and anglers catch them from shore at any of the lake’s many fishing access sites. Dam East Recreation Area, located at the lower end of the lake, is an excellent place to start, offering boat ramps and a fishing pier.
There’s a lot of riprap along the shoreline here and on the face of the dam, which offers prime spawning cover for catfish. During June, there’s no better place to fish for channel cats.
Another key area is the railroad tracks that stretch across the upper end of the lake, offering several miles of riprap. Try around the western end of the crossing, where the river channel passes beneath the railroad bridge.
Nearby Keyesport Recreation Area offers bank fishing, boat ramps and camping.
In summer, anglers frequently catch channel catfish in the lake’s many creeks, including Hurricane, Bear, Maggot, East Fork and North Fork.
Try fishing chicken livers or shrimp on the bottom with as little weight on your line as possible.
For big flathead catfish, look for areas where deep water is close to a shallow flat. Flatheads tend to spend their days in deep water but emerge to prowl the flats after dark. They will bite live bluegill, carp and shad.
At several spots along the western shore, the channel swings within casting distance of the bank.
Mid-lake humps, islands, and the remnants of old flooded ponds are also good areas to explore, and some of the bays still have a lot of standing timber.
The Illinois DNR has also started stocking blue catfish in Carlyle Lake as of 2021. So there’s reason to be hopeful that the lake will eventually develop a quality blue cat fishery.
More: Complete Guide to Carlyle Lake Fishing
Lake Springfield
Located a stone’s throw from the state capital in the center of Illinois, Lake Springfield has been quietly developing a reputation as one of the best catfish lakes in the Prairie State in recent years. DNR surveys regularly turn up impressive catch rates and some very big fish.
Channel cats in Lake Springfield seem to average about 2 pounds, but individuals over 13 pounds are not out of the question. Flathead catfish are on the menu too, some of them in the 40-pound class.
Lake Springfield is a modest-sized reservoir at 3,866 acres, and catfish can be caught in virtually every part of the lake. The bottleneck around the center of the lake, which is spanned by Lindsay Bridge, is a perennial hotspot.
A boat ramp and public park with ample bank fishing access is located at the east end of the bridge. There are several additional bridge crossings over Lake Springfield, and they’re all good areas to fish for catfish at a wide range of depths within a relatively small area.
As is typical of Illinois reservoirs, areas with riprap along the banks are some of the best places in late spring and early summer. Channel cats gravitate to these areas in May, and eventually spawn in rocky crevices in June and July.
Nightcrawlers are favored by many local anglers as catfish bait. Try using a bobber to suspend your bait just a few inches off the bottom near riprap-lined banks. Slowly drag or drift your bait parallel to shore.
Flathead catfish spawn just a little later than channel catfish, seeking out protected areas near shore. Numerous artificial fish habitat structures have been sunk throughout the lake, and they’re good spots to find fish.
The DNR has been stocking blue catfish in Lake Springfield since 2006, and if the 90-pound blue cat caught in 2021 is any indication, the lake is nicely developing into a trophy catfish lake. Try drifting cut bait along the edges of the river channel for big blues.
Lake Springfield is highly developed, and the City of Springfield operates numerous public parks, boat ramps and fishing access sites around the shore, making it one of the easiest places to get on the water in Central Illinois.
Honorable Mentions
Wabash River
Forming a little over 200 miles of the border between Illinois and Indiana, the Wabash River offers abundant populations of blue, flathead and channel catfish. It’s a broad, plodding river that can produce good catches almost anywhere.
Stretches of the Wabash River around Mt. Carmel, IL, and New Harmony, IN, are among the most reliably productive. There’s also great fishing close to the mouth of the river, where it meets the Ohio River near Old Shawneetown.
Bridges, Islands, sandbars, and the remnants of old dam structures are prime areas to target. Try letting chicken livers and cut bait drift into deep holes.
Blue catfish are most abundant in the lower 50 miles of the river.
The Wabash is different from other major rivers like the Ohio and the Mississippi in that it doesn’t have a navigation channel.
Water levels can vary wildly depending on the season and the river stage. Summer offers the easiest fishing conditions.
Crab Orchard Lake
Southern Illinois’ Crab Orchard Lake isn’t a trophy catfish lake, but for folks who simply want to spend a day or night hauling in scrappy channel cats, it’s a tough lake to beat. The catfish population is prolific and entirely self-sustaining.
Numbers remain solid year after year, and DNR surveys suggest that fish over 22 inches make up more than half of the population. Bank and boat anglers both do well, and there’s ample access through Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (a special permit is required).
Crab Orchard Lake lends itself to a laid-back form of catfish angling. Letting a nightcrawler or chicken liver soak while your rod props up against a forked stick is the way to go.
Try cut shad if you’re after bigger cats.
When you get your fill of catfish, pull out the bass lures because Crab Orchard is one of the better bass fishing lakes in Southern Illinois.
Rock River
Beginning in Wisconsin, the Rock River enters Illinois near Rockton and swings southwest for about 155 miles before it empties into the Mississippi.
It’s a mid-sized river that is dammed in half a dozen places in Illinois. There’s excellent public access on each pool.
This river produces impressive numbers of channel catfish year after year. Flathead catfish are common too, and while most are in the 5-pound class, 20-pound-plus flatheads are never out of the question.
The tailwater below the Oregon Dam is a great flathead spot, and there’s a lot of good water from Oregon down to Dixon.
The Rock River is typically high and muddy in springtime, but it drops and warms up significantly in May, and the catfish action starts to pick up.
Summer is a great time to fish, as the river is often low enough to wade, and any deep, shady hole is likely to contain catfish.
There’s usually good catfish fishing well into fall.
We’ve also named Rock River as one of the best fly-fishing lakes in Illinois due to its abundant smallmouth bass and big northern pike.
Kaskaskia River
Flowing across nearly 300 miles of South-Central Illinois, the Kaskaskia River is an excellent catfish river, albeit one that’s better known for numbers than size. Eater-size channel cats are abundant, and flatheads occasionally top 10 pounds.
The lower 36 miles of the river down to where it empties into the Mississippi can also produce some decent blue cats.
Two of the best places to fish on the Kaskaskia River are the tailwaters below Carlyle Lake and Lake Shelbyville.
Both sites are easily accessible to bank fishing, and the Carlyle tailwater in particular is known for producing some of the bigger catfish in the river.
The rocky area below the General Dean Suspension Bridge is a top flathead spot.
Fox Chain O’ Lakes
A string of glacial lakes in the northeast corner of Illinois, the Fox Chain O’ Lakes offers some of the best catfish opportunities in the Greater Chicago Area.
It’s not exactly a trophy fishery, but channel catfish are highly abundant, with a population that skews toward 18-inch-plus fish.
The 15 lakes that make up the Fox Chain feature a wide variety of bottom structure, including shallow flats, gravel-bottomed areas, and rocky drop-offs. Some of the best areas are the channels that connect the lakes.
The water in the Fox Chain is generally quite clear, so night fishing is often best, especially in summer.
Chain O’ Lakes State Park offers public boat ramps and some good bank access.
Flathead catfish are also available but are much less common than channel cats.
The Fox Chain is an all-around powerhouse for sport fishing, including producing some of the best walleye fishing action in Illinois.
Big Muddy River
Not to be confused with the nickname frequently given to its parent river, the Big Muddy River is a modest-sized tributary of the Mississippi in Southern Illinois.
From the tailwater below the Rend Lake dam to its confluence with the other “Big Muddy,” this river provides great catfish fishing.
Anglers often catch blue catfish in the lower part of the river, including many over 50 pounds. Shoreline brush and trees provide some of the best areas to soak your bait.
The Big Muddy River lives up to its name in spring but usually falls significantly during May.
Much of the river flows through Shawnee National Forest, with areas like the Turkey Bayou Campground in Oakwood Bottoms providing good river access.
Farther downriver, there’s also excellent fishing around the Highway 3 bridge.
Sangamon River
About 240 miles in length, the Sangamon River is a tributary of the Illinois River that flows through Springfield on its way across the central part of the state.
Channel cats are common in the river, and flatheads are especially abundant in the lower Sangamon.
Populations vary quite a bit, and certain areas are regularly productive, while others have few catfish, if any.
In the upper Sangamon River, the area around Roby is one of the better channel cat areas. The confluence with Salt Creek is another good spot farther downriver.
Some chunky 10- to 12-pound flatheads come out of the Riverton area, with good access through Wheeland Park.
Live bluegill are the flathead bait of choice, while cheese baits and blood baits on catfish dip worms with treble hooks are top picks for channels.
Catch More Catfish
Who wouldn’t want to catch more catfish for that next fish fry? If you agree, check out our simple guide to catfish fishing tactics, including bait and tackle suggestions for the top species.