Kankakee River
Kankakee River
- Boat Ramps
- 12
- Access Points
- 21
- Species
- 48
The Kankakee River is a premier warm-water fishing destination spanning 133 miles through Indiana and Illinois. This river exhibits two distinct characters: the Illinois section follows its natural course with a higher gradient, swifter currents, and well-oxygenated water, while the Indiana portion has been extensively channelized, flowing in straight lines between levees. Once meandering through one of America's largest wetlands (the Grand Kankakee Marsh), much of the Indiana section was drained and altered in the late 19th century. Despite these differences, the Kankakee offers exceptional fishing opportunities throughout its entirety, from its headwaters near South Bend, Indiana, to its confluence with the Des Plaines River near Channahon, Illinois, where they form the Illinois River. The river is predominantly a clear, shallow stream featuring gravel-rubble riffles, sand-bottom pools, and swampy marsh areas along the upper portion, with larger pools formed by dams at Momence, Kankakee, and Wilmington.
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are at Kankakee 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
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Black Buffalo
Ictiobus niger
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
Black Redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
Brown Bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
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
Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
Quillback Carpsucker
Carpiodes cyprinus
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
River Carpsucker
Carpiodes carpio
River Redhorse
Moxostoma carinatum
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
Sauger
Sander canadensis
Shorthead Redhorse Sucker
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Silver Carp
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Silver Redhorse
Moxostoma anisurum
Skipjack Herring
Alosa chrysochloris
Smallmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus bubalus
Smallmouth Redhorse
Moxostoma breviceps
Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus
Fish stocking schedule
Latest 5 stockings
- Walleye435,000 fish2026
- Walleye114,558 fish · 2.0 in2026
- Walleye407,000 fish2025
- Walleye108,294 fish · 2.0 in2025
- Walleye113,504 fish · 2.0 in2024
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 Kankakee 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 Kankakee 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.
Indiana licenses and regulations
Indiana 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.
Indiana Fishing License
Non-resident youth age 17 or younger are exempt from a fishing license, state migratory waterfowl stamp, and gamebird habitat stamp.
Indiana 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.
Indiana Stream Access Laws
Public recreation and boating are allowed on all navigable, state-owned waters/riverbeds. That determination, however, can be difficult to ascertain. We recommend consulting a stream roster on indiana.gov
Take Kankakee 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 Kankakee River to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Kankakee River to find where and when fish are biting for you.
Get the onWater Fish app
Free on iOS and Android
Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)
See the best times to fish Kankakee River and check the forecast before you go.
KANKAKEE RIVER AT MOMENCE, IL
All Flow Stations
Kankakee River fishing guides
Book a trip with a local fishing guide through Guidesly.
Fishing near Kankakee River
Lake Michigan
Illinois River
Tippecanoe River
Deep River
Cedar Lake
Lake George
Little Calumet River
Loomis Lake
Long Lake
Explore Indiana waters
Top fishing waters
Popular Cities
Loading popular cities...
Explore near Kankakee River
Fish species
Fishing spots
- Kankakee River Boat Ramp
- Kingsbury F&W Area Boat Ramp
- Dunns Bridge Boat Ramp
- Kankakee River Boat Ramp
- LaSalle Boat Ramp
- Kankakee & Yellow Rivers, The Points Boat Ramp
- Shelby Boat Ramp
- Kankakee River / Black Oak Bayou Boat Ramp
- East Keyser Street Boat Ramp
- Momence Anchor Club Boat Ramp
- Kankakee River State Park Boat Ramp
- Kankakee Conservation Area Boat Ramp
- All 291 spots
Nearby waters
More in Indiana
Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.
onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.