Map

Apple River

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Illinois, United States

4.5·199 catches

Top fish species at Apple River

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Check which species have trophy potential in Apple River

Apple River fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Smallmouth bass

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

17 in · 2 lb 5 oz

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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General info

Apple River is a stream located in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. It is also intersecting with Carroll County, Illinois and Lafayette County, Wisconsin. It is most popular for fishing Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Largemouth bass.

Location

42°22′7.7″N 90°09′29.7″W
Directions

Amenities

When are Largemouth Bass biting on Apple River?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Apple River. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at Apple 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.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Smallmouth bass as of May 3rd, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Smallmouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

6

Aggregate

6

There is no statewide size limit. Daily harvest limit is 6 Bass, either singly or in the aggregate, except as specified under Site-Specific Regulations.

In streams and rivers (excluding the main-stem of the Mississippi, Ohio, including the Golconda Marina and Wabash Rivers) the daily harvest can contain no more than 3 Smallmouth Bass. In rivers and streams and their tributaries statewide, except for the Mississippi, Ohio (including the Golconda Marina), Wabash and Illinois Rivers, Calumet River, Lake Calumet Connecting Channel, Calumet Sag Channel and navigable portions of the Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River, all Smallmouth Bass must be immediately released between April 1 and June 15.

Only statewide regulations are shown herein, but you can access Site-Specific Regulations online.

Micropterus dolomieui

Regulations for

42°22′7.7″N 90°09′29.7″W
Regulations in the map
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Local laws and licenses

Illinois fishing license

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Reviews of Apple River

4.5
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2 ratings

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Cities nearby

Apple Canyon Lake

4.3 miles away

Elizabeth

4.9 miles away

Stockton

8.1 miles away

The Galena Territory

8.4 miles away

Scales Mound

8.8 miles away

Apple River

9.8 miles away

Hanover

9.8 miles away

Nora

12.4 miles away

Galena

14.3 miles away

Shullsburg

14.7 miles away

Bellevue

15.8 miles away

Lena

17.2 miles away

Hazel Green

18.2 miles away

Pearl City

18.3 miles away

Savanna

19.3 miles away

St. Donatus

19.6 miles away

South Wayne

19.9 miles away

Lake Carroll

20.1 miles away

Winslow

20.4 miles away

Menominee

20.9 miles away

Mount Carroll

21.1 miles away

Springbrook

21.6 miles away

East Dubuque

25.3 miles away

Sandy Hook

26.4 miles away

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FAQ about Apple River fishing

the Apple River is a stream located in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. It is also intersecting with Carroll County, Illinois and Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Its coordinates are:
42°22′7.7″N 90°09′29.7″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on the Apple 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.
The most common species in the Apple River are:
The latest Apple River fishing reports are:
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