Illinois Fishing Pier Directory

Every Fishing Pier in Illinois

1,113+ fishing piers across Illinois. Saltwater, freshwater, and river access. 138 named piers with details.

Illinois has 1,113 piers spanning Lake Michigan's 63-mile shoreline (Chicago through the North Shore), the Mississippi River from Galena to Cairo, the Illinois River, the Fox River, the Rock River, the Kankakee River, and inland reservoirs like Carlyle Lake, Rend Lake, Lake Shelbyville, and Lake Springfield. Whether you're casting for coho salmon off Montrose Harbor's piers in Chicago, jigging for walleye on a Mississippi River dock, fishing for catfish at Carlyle Lake, or chasing perch off a North Shore breakwall, the directory below shows piers with verified locations, public-access status, parking availability, and amenity details.

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Browse by City

Chicago

102 piers

Peoria County

57 piers

Franklin County

48 piers

Saline County

47 piers

Lake County

39 piers

Williamson County

37 piers

Jo Daviess County

31 piers

Cook County

27 piers

Will County

20 piers

Fox Lake

16 piers

LaSalle County

16 piers

Peoria

16 piers

McHenry County

15 piers

White County

14 piers

DuPage County

14 piers

Springfield

14 piers

The Complete Guide

Illinois's Pier Landscape

Illinois runs an unusual pier market shaped by Chicago's 63-mile Lake Michigan shoreline at one extreme and the Mississippi River and downstate reservoirs at the other. Chicago's lakefront piers — Montrose Harbor, Belmont Harbor, Diversey Harbor, Burnham Harbor, the 31st Street and 63rd Street beach piers, plus the iconic Navy Pier — host one of the country's most concentrated urban-shore fisheries. Coho salmon, chinook salmon (limited harvest), brown trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, perch, and seasonal alewives all fish from Chicago lakefront piers, with peak action during spring (May-June) and fall (September-November) salmon runs. The North Shore from Evanston through Wilmette, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and Waukegan extends the Lake Michigan pier scene with smaller harbor and breakwall piers. The Mississippi River corridor (Galena, Savanna, Quincy, Alton, East St. Louis, Cairo) hosts pier fishing for walleye, sauger, smallmouth, catfish, and seasonal striped hybrid bass and white bass. The Illinois River anchors a similar inland fishery at Peoria, Pekin, and along the lower river. The Fox, Rock, Kankakee, Sangamon, and Vermilion rivers host smaller pier scenes. Inland reservoirs — Carlyle Lake (Illinois's largest at 26,000 acres), Rend Lake (19,000 acres), Lake Shelbyville (11,100 acres), Clinton Lake, Lake Springfield, and Lake of Egypt — support bass-tournament-grade pier fishing plus catfish, crappie, walleye, and white bass.

Lake Michigan Salmon, River Walleye, and License Logistics

Three Illinois-specific factors shape every pier outing. Lake Michigan salmon runs drive Chicago and North Shore pier fishing seasonality. Coho salmon peak May through June and again September through October on Chicago lakefront piers. Chinook salmon are catchable but heavily restricted with strict possession limits. Brown trout fish year-round at Chicago piers but peak in spring and fall. Lake trout fish year-round with summer harvest restrictions. Spring perch runs hit Chicago piers in late April through May. Fall perch returns October-November. River walleye drive downstate pier fishing — the Mississippi River walleye and sauger run hits Mississippi piers in spring (March-April) post-spawn and again in fall (September-October). White bass runs hit Mississippi and Illinois River piers in spring. Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) fish year-round at all river piers. License logistics are straightforward: an Illinois Sportsman's License covers fishing statewide for residents (16-64); non-residents need a non-resident fishing license. A Lake Michigan salmon stamp ($6.50) is required for fishing salmon and trout on Lake Michigan. A separate Trout Stamp ($6.50) is required for inland trout fishing. All licenses are issued through Illinois DNR. Daily and three-day permits are available for short trips.

Regional Patterns Across the State

Illinois's pier market splits into four distinct regions. Chicago Lake Michigan lakefront (Cook County): Chicago harbors and beach piers, year-round access at protected harbor piers, salmon and perch focus, urban-shore fishing density, peak demand May-June and September-November. North Shore Lake Michigan (Lake County): Evanston through Waukegan, smaller harbor and breakwall piers, similar salmon and trout fishery as Chicago, less crowded. Mississippi River corridor (Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henderson, Adams, Calhoun, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Jackson, Union, Alexander counties): walleye, sauger, smallmouth, catfish, white bass focus, river-pier fishing patterns, peak spring and fall. Inland reservoirs and southern Illinois (DuPage, Kane, Will, Kankakee, Iroquois, Champaign, Vermilion, Macon, Sangamon, Christian, Coles, Effingham, Fayette, Marion, Williamson, Saline, Pope, Hardin counties — Carlyle, Rend, Shelbyville, Clinton, Springfield, Lake of Egypt): bass-tournament dominance, mixed warmwater fishery, year-round pier access at most reservoirs. The directory above includes coverage across all four regions.

All 1435 Illinois Fishing Piers

101 Street Pier

Cook County

1893 Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

Chicago

Winthrop Harbor

Winthrop Harbor

Quincy

Cook County

Clinton County

Rockford

Beck Lake Boat Launch

Cook County

Belleau Lake

Park Ridge

Belmont River Club Dock

Chicago

Bi-State Development Agency Harbor

Granite City

Boat launch

Algonquin

Bruce lake

DuPage County

Busse Forest Main Dam Accessible Fishing Area

Cook County

Busse Forest-West Accessible Fishing Area

Cook County

Busse Lake Beisner Road Access Accessible Fishing Area

Cook County

Canal Origins Fishing Area

Chicago

Central Illinois Freight Pier

Creve Coeur

Chicago Yacht Club Dock

Chicago

Chippewa Woods

Cook County

Coast Guard Pier

Saint Louis

Columbia Yacht Club Dock

Chicago

Jackson County

Saint Charles County

Saint Clair County

Chicago

Clinton County

Chicago

Chicago

Additional Fishing Spots

Illinois Pier Fishing FAQ

How many fishing piers are in Illinois?

PierSeeker lists 1113+ fishing piers, docks, and jetties across Illinois.

Do I need a fishing license in Illinois?

Most states require a fishing license even when fishing from a public pier. Check Illinois's fish and wildlife department for current requirements.

What fish can I catch from piers in Illinois?

Popular catches from Illinois piers include salmon, perch, and catfish. Species vary by location and season.

Are fishing piers in Illinois free?

Many fishing piers in Illinois are free to access. Some popular piers may charge a small fee during peak season.

Is PierSeeker free?

Yes, completely free. No login, no account, no fees. Just find your pier and go fish.

When is the best salmon fishing on Chicago lakefront piers?

Coho salmon peak May through June at Chicago lakefront piers (Montrose Harbor, Belmont Harbor, Diversey Harbor, 31st Street). The fall coho run hits in September-October. Chinook salmon are catchable year-round but heavily restricted with strict possession limits. Brown trout fish year-round, peaking in spring and fall. Spring perch runs hit Chicago piers in late April-May; fall perch returns October-November. Confirm current Lake Michigan rules with Illinois DNR before each trip — possession and size limits adjust seasonally.

Do I need a fishing license to fish from an Illinois pier?

Yes — Illinois requires a fishing license for anyone 16 or older. The Sportsman's License covers fishing statewide for residents under 65; non-residents need a non-resident fishing license. A Lake Michigan salmon stamp ($6.50) is required for fishing salmon and trout on Lake Michigan. A separate Trout Stamp ($6.50) is required for inland trout fishing. Daily and three-day permits are available for short trips. All licenses are issued through Illinois DNR.

What's the best fishing on a Mississippi River pier in Illinois?

Walleye and sauger runs peak in spring (March-April) post-spawn and again in fall (September-October) at Mississippi River piers from Galena south through Alton. Smallmouth bass fish year-round, peaking May-June and September-October. White bass runs hit in spring (April-May). Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) fish year-round, with summer evenings most productive. Striped hybrid bass appear seasonally below dam tailwaters.

Fishing Tips & Guides

Guides

Pier Fishing Tide Charts: How to Read Them and When Fish Actually Bite

Pier fishing tide charts explained. Which tides produce the best bite, how to read NOAA charts, and the 2-hour windows y...

Best Pier Fishing by Season: What to Catch and When

Spring flounder, summer snapper, fall redfish, winter whiting — what to target from the pier every season.

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