USWaterLevels
🎣 Week of July 26, 2026

Illinois Weekly Fishing Report

Based on live USGS water temperature data — which lakes are in the ideal zone for your target species this Summer?

🐟 47 Species Active 🏞️ 5 Top Lakes 📅 Summer 2026

📋 This Week's Fishing Forecast

This week's fishing report for Illinois shows active conditions for July. Water temperatures are supporting strong activity from Alligator Gar, Bighead Carp, Black Bullhead. In total, 47 species are currently within their preferred temperature range across the state. The top-rated water bodies this week include Des Plaines River In Lock Channel At Rockdale, Il, Vermilion River Near Danville, Il, Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station, Il. Des Plaines River In Lock Channel At Rockdale, Il leads with a fishing suitability score of 35 species in optimal range at 65.8°F (35 active species). Summer heat pushes many fish into deeper, cooler water during midday. Early morning and late evening are the most productive windows. Look for shaded areas, deep channels, and thermoclines.

🏆 Top Lakes This Week — Ideal Water Temperatures

1 Des Plaines River In Lock Channel At Rockdale, Il
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch
65.8°F
Water Temp
35 species active
View current water level & conditions →
2 Vermilion River Near Danville, Il
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch
65.5°F
Water Temp
35 species active
View current water level & conditions →
3 Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station, Il
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch
65.3°F
Water Temp
35 species active
View current water level & conditions →
4 South Fork Vermilion River At Forrest, Il
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Channel Catfish 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Longnose Gar 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) 🐟 Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead
71.6°F
Water Temp
34 species active
View current water level & conditions →
5 Spoon River At Modena, Il
🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Channel Catfish 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Longnose Gar 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) 🐟 Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead
71.1°F
Water Temp
34 species active
View current water level & conditions →

🪝 Recommended Baits This Week

deep-diving crankbaits dropshot rigs nightcrawlers topwater poppers (dawn/dusk)

Bait recommendations based on active species and current water conditions in Illinois

🔥 Active Species This Week

These species currently have water temperatures in their optimal range somewhere in Illinois.

🐟 Alligator Gar 🐟 Bighead Carp 🐟 Black Bullhead 🐟 Black Crappie 🐟 Blue Catfish 🐟 Bluegill 🐟 Bowfin 🐟 Brook Trout 🐟 Brown Bullhead 🐟 Brown Trout 🐟 Bull Trout 🐟 Burbot 🐟 Chain Pickerel 🐟 Channel Catfish 🐟 Chinook Salmon (King Salmon) 🐟 Coho Salmon (Silver Salmon) 🐟 Common Carp 🐟 Cutthroat Trout 🐟 Flathead Catfish 🐟 Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead) 🐟 Grass Carp 🐟 Green Sunfish 🐟 Lake Sturgeon 🐟 Lake Trout 🐟 Largemouth Bass 🐟 Longnose Gar 🐟 Muskellunge (Muskie) 🐟 Northern Pike 🐟 Paddlefish 🐟 Pumpkinseed 🐟 Rainbow Trout 🐟 Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) 🐟 Rock Bass (Goggle-eye) 🐟 Sauger 🐟 Silver Carp 🐟 Smallmouth Bass 🐟 Spotted Gar 🐟 Striped Bass 🐟 Walleye 🐟 Warmouth 🐟 White Bass 🐟 White Crappie 🐟 White Perch 🐟 White Sturgeon 🐟 Yellow Bass 🐟 Yellow Bullhead 🐟 Yellow Perch

📍 Other States

🌡️ Temperature Guide

Below 50°F Trout Season
50–65°F Bass Pre-Spawn
65–75°F Peak Season
75–85°F Catfish & Carp
Above 85°F Fish Stressed

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