There are still some good-looking winter steelhead to be caught in the remaining week of the season on the Illinois. The warm weather should keep the river levels around 625 cfs for the next week or so as snow is melting in the higher elevations. The river was on a slight rise on Wednesday morning and churning out 660 cfs. The river color should be back to being pretty clear, so small presentations are key if using jigs or yarn balls.

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 (just above Swinging Bridge). Fall creek is the first creek upstream of the swinging bridge (accessed via road NF-087).  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, but make sure not to leave valuables in your vehicle.

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. For up-to-date flows check the USGS Kerby gauge.