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Spring fish runs in Illinois

Illinois Spring Fish Runs: White Bass

White bass in the Illinois River's Alton Pool, up to the La Grange tailwater, begin spawning in May or early June near 61°F.

Illinois at a glance

Read October 13, 2026
1
Run
on 1 water
1
Species
white bass
61°F
Spawning water
for white bass
1
USGS gauge
on the Illinois River

Months, temperatures and places are the agency’s own, quoted on each run below. The verdict on each card is worked out in your browser against today and the latest reading at the gauge on that river.

Is the run on?

Every Illinois run, and where it stands today

White bass

White bass on the Illinois River

When
Across their range, white bass spawn February through May.
Spawns at
61°F Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The run
Alton Pool up to the La Grange Lock and Dam tailwater
Where to go
Naples, Meredosia
White bass, the most prevalent of the three temperate bass species found in the Illinois River, is a schooling species that is present throughout the main channel of the Alton Pool. White bass are a short-lived and fast-growing species that provide excellent sport fishing opportunities during the early spring spawning runs or mid-summer feeding frenzies of gizzard shad.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
The rules on this water (1), where to fish and notes
Limit2026 regulations
There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17˝ in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17˝ in total length or longer, the daily limit is 3 fish, either singly or in the aggregate, except in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where there is a 30 fish daily harvest limit for all Striped, White, Yellow, or hybrid Striped Bass.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Where to fish
Naples and Meredosia both have public ramps on the river. There is a ramp upstream of the La Grange Lock and Dam, but access to the tailwater requires locking through. The run from the Meredosia ramp to the La Grange tailwater is about 9 miles, but worth the trip.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
The swift currents below the dam add a diversity of habitat conditions, which provides excellent White Bass fishing, along with concentrations of Sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass and catfish.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
Note
White bass numbers can be cyclic, because they require a degree of flowing water for spawning success. White bass numbers have been on the low cycle, but rebounded in 2024, likely due to spring flood pulses.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 13, 2026. Read it at the source
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Sources

Where the Illinois runs come from

Every month, temperature, place and rule on this page is quoted from these pages, read October 13, 2026. Rules change every year, so check the current regulations before you fish.

Illinois fish run questions

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More fishing

More fishing in Illinois

Best fishing times in IllinoisThe feeding windows for your ZIP, every dayIllinois fishing licenseWhat it costs, and when it runs outTrout stocking in IllinoisThe stocked waters and the state report

Spring fish runs in other states

Every spring fish run, state by state

Runs, months, spawning temperatures, places and rules read October 13, 2026 from the pages listed under sources. Where a state gives no temperature for a species, the figure is the species figure its publisher gives, and the card says so. Water temperatures are the latest reading at a USGS gauge on the run’s own river, fetched when the page opens; a run without one goes by the months.