With water conditions continuing to drop and water gin clear, smaller presentations are best to fish. Jigs under a sliding bobber and yarn balls dipped in scent are good bets. Spinners and spoons are also favorites when fished in a deep hole. With the dropping water fish will start seeking out the deeper resting areas.

Late last week fishing appeared pretty slow, but there were some reports of a few fish being caught over the weekend. Anglers are reminded that no bait is allowed on the Illinois River, and soft plastic imitations of eggs or worms are considered bait. Hence, leave your rubber pink worms or soft beads at home. 

Illinois downstream of Pomeroy Dam is open to fishing for steelhead and trout, but closed year-round to salmon fishing. Upstream of Pomeroy Dam and all tributaries are also closed year-round. All fishing is closed from Fall Creek to 400 feet above Illinois Falls (near the swinging bridge along Illinois River Rd.). If you suspect illegal activity, please call OSP or the local ODFW District Office.

Trout fishing is mostly catch-and-release for wild trout as there is no hatchery on the Illinois system. 

Wild steelhead may be retained between Klondike Creek to Fall Creek and from 400 feet above Illinois Falls, upstream to Pomeroy Dam. Wild steelhead must be at least 24 inches long to harvest and the bag limit is 1 per day/3 per year in aggregate for the Southwest Zone rivers where wild steelhead harvest is allowed (consult SW Zone regulations).  

There is also good bank access along the Illinois River Rd. outside of Selma, all the way downstream to Miami Bar and Briggs Creek. Expect to hike to some of the better fishing spots. Please park outside of the white lines to keep roads clear. Do your part and pack out what you pack in, as well as someone else’s trash. There is trash service available at the Siskiyou Field Institute outside of Selma. 8 dollar road, just north of Kerby, also has good public access.

Much of the publicly accessible reaches of the Illinois River fall under the USFS Wild Rivers Ranger District. More information can be found on their website.

Flows continue to drop but are still very fishable. Flows on Wednesday morning were 1,130 cfs/5.65 feet at Kerby. Check the USGS Kerby guage, which provides up to date river flow information.