The river was flowing pretty good on Monday, and is expected to make a sharp rise with this week’s weather. It may be fishable by late weekend. A few early run winter steelhead should be starting to dart up into the canyon and Kerby area shortly.

Emergency regulations on the Illinois River have been lifted. The river is open to zone regulations. Only artificial fliess and lures are allowed. Soft beads and plastic worms are considered bait.

Wild Steelhead may be harvested if they are over 24 inches long and caught between Klondike Creek and Fall Creek, or from 400 feet above Illinois Falls to Pomeroy Dam. Only 1 may be kept per day and 3 per year zone wide, so if you already have 3 wild fish on your combined angling card, you need to wait until Jan. 1 and the new license year starts.  Additionally, it’s illegal to fish 200 feet below the fishway at Pomeroy Dam. The river and tributaries above Pomeroy are always closed to fishing.

There is good public access along 8 Dollar Rd.

Check the USGS Kerby guage which provides up to date river flow information.