Big Muddy River
Big Muddy River
- Boat Ramps
- 1
- Access Points
- 1
- Species
- 42
The Big Muddy River is a lowland stream located in southwestern Illinois, flowing through multiple counties including Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Marion, Perry, Union, Washington, and Williamson. Named for its high silt content, the river is properly named as it historically carried and continues to transport great quantities of silt. The mainstem is approximately 156 miles long, joining the Mississippi River just south of Grand Tower. With a drainage area of about 6,182 square kilometers, the Big Muddy River features a diverse fish fauna with over 100 species. The river has a sluggish flow, a sinuous course over a broad floodplain, and predominantly mud/silt substrate. The waterway averages about 25 meters wide and 0.73 meters deep, with a predominantly pool habitat structure (about 60% pool areas) and limited riffle sections (only about 2%).
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are at Big Muddy River and what's needed to catch them.
Find which waters have the species you want to catch
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Black Buffalo
Ictiobus niger
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Flier
Centrarchus macropterus
Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Golden Redhorse
Moxostoma erythrurum
Grass Carp
Grass Pickerel
Esox americanus
Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
Highfin Carpsucker
Carpiodes velifer
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Northern Hogsucker
Hypentelium nigricans
Orangespotted Sunfish
Lepomis humilis
Paddlefish
Polyodon spathula
Quillback Carpsucker
Carpiodes cyprinus
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
River Carpsucker
Carpiodes carpio
Sauger
Sander canadensis
Shorthead Redhorse Sucker
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Shortnose Gar
Lepisosteus platostomus
Silver Carp
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Skipjack Herring
Alosa chrysochloris
Smallmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus bubalus
Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
Spotted Sucker
Minytrema melanops
Warmouth Sunfish
Lepomis gulosus
White Bass
Morone chrysops
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
White Perch
Morone americana
White Sucker
Catostomus commersonii
Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities
Learn how to get on Big Muddy River. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.
Know where you can legally fish on Big Muddy River
See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.
Illinois licenses and regulations
Illinois Boating Regulations
When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.
Illinois Fishing License
All individuals who are 16 and over are required to have a fishing license. All youth who are below 16 may fish without a license.
Illinois Fishing Regulations
This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.
Illinois Steam Access Laws
If the waterway is navigable in fact and the streambed is publicly owned, it is most likely fully accessible. If the streambed is privately owned, it is only accessible for navigation, not for hunting, fishing or portage.
Take Big Muddy River with you
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Use the map without signal
Download the map around Big Muddy River to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
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Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)
See the best times to fish Big Muddy River and check the forecast before you go.
BIG MUDDY RIVER AT PLUMFIELD, IL
All Flow Stations
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