Sangamon River
Sangamon River
- Boat Ramps
- 8
- Access Points
- 14
- Species
- 41
The Sangamon River is the largest tributary of the Illinois River, flowing for 240 miles through central Illinois with a watershed encompassing 5,362 square miles. This significant waterway is divided into three management sections: Upper Sangamon, Lower Sangamon, and Salt Creek. The Lower Sangamon stretches from its mouth at the Illinois River in Beardstown to the confluence of the South Fork near Riverton. While there are no main-stem impoundments within this reach, there are lowhead dams at Springfield and Petersburg, both of which are old and breached. The lowermost 36 miles of the river from the Salt Creek confluence downstream was channelized in 1949. Part of the original meandering Sangamon River channel is preserved within the Sanganois Conservation Area.
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are at Sangamon River and what's needed to catch them.
Find which waters have the species you want to catch
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Black Buffalo
Ictiobus niger
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
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
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
Sauger
Sander canadensis
Shorthead Redhorse Sucker
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Shortnose Gar
Lepisosteus platostomus
Silver Carp
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Silver Redhorse
Moxostoma anisurum
Skipjack Herring
Alosa chrysochloris
Smallmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus bubalus
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
Spotted Sucker
Minytrema melanops
Warmouth Sunfish
Lepomis gulosus
White Bass
Morone chrysops
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
White Sucker
Catostomus commersonii
Yellow Bass
Morone mississippiensis
Fish stocking schedule
All stockings · 4
- Walleye12,792 fish · 2.0 in2026
- Walleye13,023 fish · 2.0 in2025
- Walleye21,784 fish · 2.0 in2024
- Walleye13,919 fish · 2.0 in2022
Source
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Updated Nov 13, 2026. Sizes are the length the agency reports. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.
Open stocking page, opens in new tabFishing spots, boat ramps & amenities
Learn how to get on Sangamon 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 Sangamon 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 Sangamon River with you
The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.
Use the map without signal
Download the map around Sangamon River to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Sangamon River to find where and when fish are biting for you.
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Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)
See the best times to fish Sangamon River and check the forecast before you go.
SANGAMON RIVER NEAR OAKFORD, IL
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