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Big Muddy River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Illinois, United States

4.8·271 catches

Top fish species at Big Muddy River

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Big Muddy River fishing reports

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Alligator gar

11 in · 7 lb

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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Blue catfish

length · weight

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Blue catfish

length · weight

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Blue catfish

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Wiper

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General info

Big Muddy River is a stream located in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. It is also intersecting with Jackson County, Illinois. It is most popular for fishing Freshwater drum, Silver carp, and Channel catfish.

Location

38°01′10.3″N 88°57′56.2″W
Directions

Amenities

Fishing regulations at Big Muddy River, IL

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Illinois can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Freshwater drum

Freshwater drum

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Special gear

IL Snagging

SNAGGINGa) 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 Harvest Limit. Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging: Bighead Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Black Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitBowfin – no harvest limitBuffalo – no harvest limitCarpsuckers – no harvest limitCommon Carp – no harvest limitFreshwater Drum – no harvest limitGizzard Shad – no harvest limitGrass Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitLongnose Gar – no harvest limitPaddlefish – two per day; the maximum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33-inch eye-fork length (EFL) (all Paddlefish greater than or equal to 33-inch EFL must be imme- diately released back to the Mississippi River); the minimum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri is 24-inch EFL(all Paddlefish less than or equal to 24-inch EFL must be immedi- ately released back to the Mississippi River). Salmon (Coho and Chinook only) – five fish, in the aggregate, daily harvest limit Shortnose Gar – no harvest limit Silver Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Suckers – no harvest limit c) No sorting (i.e., catching more fish than is allowed and putting back some in order to keep larger ones) of snagged Salmon and Paddlefish is permitted, except for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where sorting is permitted. Every Paddlefish snagged must be included in the daily harvest limit. Every Salmon 10 inches in total length or longer snagged must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit. Once the daily limit of Salmon or Paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease. d) Waters Open to Snagging and Snagging Season: Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Illinois River, except for the area below the Peoria Lock and Dam where snagging is permitted year round. Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island – Madison County, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks – Madison County where no snagging is permitted. Snagging is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. Snagging for fish is permitted year-round within a 100 yard limit upstream or downstream of the dam at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County. Snagging for Chinook and Coho Salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors). Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged Salmon and Paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly. 

Additional information
There are no daily harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site-Specific Regulations.
Edibility
Good
Synonyms
Aplodinotus grunnieus, Sheephead
Season open: year-round
Silver carp

Silver carp

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Special gear

IL Snagging

SNAGGINGa) 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 Harvest Limit. Only the following species of fish and harvest limit may be taken by snagging: Bighead Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Black Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitBowfin – no harvest limitBuffalo – no harvest limitCarpsuckers – no harvest limitCommon Carp – no harvest limitFreshwater Drum – no harvest limitGizzard Shad – no harvest limitGrass Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limitLongnose Gar – no harvest limitPaddlefish – two per day; the maximum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa is 33-inch eye-fork length (EFL) (all Paddlefish greater than or equal to 33-inch EFL must be imme- diately released back to the Mississippi River); the minimum length limit for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri is 24-inch EFL(all Paddlefish less than or equal to 24-inch EFL must be immedi- ately released back to the Mississippi River). Salmon (Coho and Chinook only) – five fish, in the aggregate, daily harvest limit Shortnose Gar – no harvest limit Silver Carp (no live possession) – no harvest limit Suckers – no harvest limit c) No sorting (i.e., catching more fish than is allowed and putting back some in order to keep larger ones) of snagged Salmon and Paddlefish is permitted, except for Paddlefish taken from the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where sorting is permitted. Every Paddlefish snagged must be included in the daily harvest limit. Every Salmon 10 inches in total length or longer snagged must be taken into immediate possession and included in the daily harvest limit. Once the daily limit of Salmon or Paddlefish has been reached, snagging must cease. d) Waters Open to Snagging and Snagging Season: Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Illinois River, except for the area below the Peoria Lock and Dam where snagging is permitted year round. Snagging for fish is permitted from September 15 through December 15 and from March 15 through May 15 within a 300 yard downstream limit below all locks and dams of the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri, except for the Chain of Rocks low water dam at Chouteau Island – Madison County, also known as Dam 27 at the Chain of Rocks – Madison County where no snagging is permitted. Snagging is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset daily, March 1 through April 15 within a 500 yard downstream limit below locks and dams on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. Snagging for fish is permitted year-round within a 100 yard limit upstream or downstream of the dam at Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County. Snagging for Chinook and Coho Salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors). Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged Salmon and Paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly. 

Additional information
There are no daily harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site-Specific Regulations.
Edibility
Very good; they have firm, flaky, white flesh, which is excellent table fare. But, they have intramuscular bones in the filets that many people find undesirable. 
Synonyms
Asian Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryIL Illinois State Waters
Additional information
There are no harvest or size limits except in those waters listed under Site-Specific Regulations. 
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
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Local laws and licenses

Illinois fishing license

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Reviews of Big Muddy River

4.8
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8 ratings

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1
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Cities nearby

West City

1.9 miles away

Buckner

3.8 miles away

Sesser

6.8 miles away

Ewing

7.8 miles away

Hanaford

8.3 miles away

West Frankfort

8.5 miles away

Zeigler

9.1 miles away

Royalton

12.7 miles away

Bonnie

13.1 miles away

Thompsonville

13.2 miles away

Waltonville

14.0 miles away

Macedonia

14.3 miles away

Du Quoin

14.6 miles away

St. Johns

15.0 miles away

Herrin

15.7 miles away

Dowell

15.9 miles away

Hurst

16.0 miles away

Tamaroa

16.5 miles away

Elkville

16.6 miles away

Opdyke

19.1 miles away

Dahlgren

19.6 miles away

De Soto

20.0 miles away

Marion

21.0 miles away

Crab Orchard

22.1 miles away

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FAQ about Big Muddy River fishing

📍 Where is the Big Muddy River located?
the Big Muddy River is a stream located in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. It is also intersecting with Jackson County, Illinois. Its coordinates are:
38°01′10.3″N 88°57′56.2″W
.
🎣 Where on the Big Muddy River is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Big Muddy River by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Big Muddy River?
The most common species in the Big Muddy River are:
📢 What are the latest Big Muddy River fishing reports?
The latest Big Muddy River fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Big Muddy River?

Fishing in Illinois requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include resident, non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination licenses, purchasable online or at licensed agents.

In Illinois, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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