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Wabash River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Illinois, United States

4.7·1686 catches

Top fish species at Wabash River

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Wabash River fishing reports

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Spotted bass

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Smallmouth bass

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Smallmouth bass

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Longnose gar

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Freshwater drum

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Smallmouth bass

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General info

Wabash River is a stream located in White County, Illinois, United States. It is also intersecting with Clark County, Illinois and Adams County, Indiana. It is most popular for fishing Smallmouth bass, Channel catfish, and Freshwater drum.

Location

37°58′25.1″N 88°00′42″W
Directions

Amenities

Fishing regulations at Wabash 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
Smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Regulation boundaryIndiana State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size14" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Aggregate limit5

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Additional information
These regulations are for smallmouth bass in lakes. Smallmouth bass regulations for rivers and streams are as follows: size limit = no black bass 12 to 15-inches total length may be kept, and no more than 2 black bass over 15-inches total length may be kept;daily bag limit = 5 black bass (any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass) Smallmouth bass regulations for Lake Michigan are as follows: minimum size = 14-inches total length;daily bag limit = 3 black bass (any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass) Special Regulations for Lakes:Lake Limits by County 15-inch minimum size limit: Patoka Lake (Orange, Dubois, and Crawford counties) 16-inch minimum size limit: Cecil M. Harden Lake (Parke County) 18-inch minimum size limit and two fish daily bag limit: Ball Lake (Steuben County) Blue Grass, Loon Pit (Warrick County) Fidler Pond (Elkhart County) Failing Lake, also known as Gentian Lake (Steuben County) Flat Fork Creek Park ponds A and B (Hamilton County) Kunkel Lake (Wells County) Robinson Lake (Whitley and Kosciusko counties) All lakes at Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area (Kosciukso, Noble, and Elkhart counties)Bixler Lake, Henderson Lake, Little Long Lake, and Round Lake (Noble County)20-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily bag limit: Turtle Creek Reservoir (Sullivan County) 12- to 15-inch slot size limits (At the following lakes, smallmouth bass that are from 12 to 15 inches in length may not be harvested. The daily bag limit applies to bass under 12 inches and over 15 inches): • Buffalo Trace Lake (Harrison County)• Ferdinand State Forest Lake (Dubois County)• Montgomery City Park Lake (Daviess County)12- to 15-inch slot size limit (no more than two bass larger than 15 inches): Big Long Lake (LaGrange County) No minimum size limit waters: Brownstown Pit (Jackson County)Burdette Park lakes (Vanderburgh County)Chandler Town Lake (Warrick County)Cypress Lake (Jackson County)Deming Park lakes (Vigo County) Garvin Park Lake (Vanderburgh County)Glen Miller Pond (Wayne County)Hayswood Lake (Harrison County)Henry County Memorial Park Lake (Henry County)Hovey Lake at Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area (Posey County)Krannert Lake (Marion County)Lake Sullivan (Marion County)Ruster Lake (Marion County)Schnebelt Pond (Dearborn County)  Special Regulations for Rivers & Streams Ohio Riverdaily bag limit = 6 black bass (any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass)minimum size = 12-inches total length20-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily bag limit: Sugar Creek (Montgomery, Parke, Boone, Clinton, and Tipton counties)12-inch minimum size limit (5 bass daily limit): All rivers and streams in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Clark, Jefferson, Switzerland, Ohio, and Dearborn counties (with the exception of the Blue River, where the slot limit applies in Crawford, Harrison, and Washington counties). 
Synonyms
Micropterus dolomieui
Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryIndiana State Waters
Bag limit10

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit10

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Memorable / trophy limits1 > 28

The maximum number of trophy individuals legally harvested per harvester per day. A trophy is any individual of a length greater than the max size limit. Trophy individuals are included in the daily bag limit unless stated otherwise.

Additional information
These regulations are for channel catfish in lakes and reservoirs. Exceptions: Turtle Creek Reservoir: no bag limit for catfishOn Fidler Pond in Elkhart County: daily bag limit = 5 channel catfishOn Failing Lake (also known as Gentian Lake) in Steuben County: daily bag limit = 5 channel catfishOn Flat Fork Creek Park ponds A and B in Hamilton County: daily bag limit = 5 channel catfish Channel catfish regulations for streams are as follows: minimum size = 13-inches total length;daily bag limit = no more than one channel catfish 28 inches or longer may be kept.
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 Wabash River

4.7
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12 ratings

5
4
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1
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Cities nearby

Maunie

4.7 miles away

Mount Vernon

6.8 miles away

New Haven

8.0 miles away

New Harmony

11.6 miles away

Carmi

11.7 miles away

Crossville

13.4 miles away

Uniontown

14.5 miles away

Parkers Settlement

16.9 miles away

Omaha

17.0 miles away

Norris City

17.2 miles away

Ridgway

18.2 miles away

Saint Wendel

19.4 miles away

Grayville

19.5 miles away

Enfield

19.8 miles away

Old Shawneetown

20.3 miles away

Cynthiana

22.1 miles away

Burnt Prairie

23.4 miles away

Broughton

24.7 miles away

Darmstadt

24.9 miles away

Johnson

25.5 miles away

Mill Shoals

26.3 miles away

Keensburg

27.3 miles away

Browns

27.9 miles away

Golden Gate

28.6 miles away

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FAQ about Wabash River fishing

📍 Where is the Wabash River located?
the Wabash River is a stream located in White County, Illinois, United States. It is also intersecting with Clark County, Illinois and Adams County, Indiana. Its coordinates are:
37°58′25.1″N 88°00′42″W
.
🎣 Where on the Wabash River is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Wabash 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 Wabash River?
The most common species in the Wabash River are:
📢 What are the latest Wabash River fishing reports?
The latest Wabash River fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Wabash 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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