Illinois
Des Plaines River at Joliet
Location Snapshot
Des Plaines River at Joliet is a lower northeast Illinois river reach with a mixed urban warmwater fishery. The principal supported target is channel catfish, with smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and common carp adding additional species variety to the same fishery.
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 05537980 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
Loading readings from the past 7 days…
Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
Loading advisory…
Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
61°F
Feels like
57°F
Wind
6 mph E
Wind gust
10 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 6:30 PM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 9 PM
Clear
Temp 54°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Wed 1 AM
Clear
Temp 49°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Wed 5 AM
Clear
Temp 45°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Wed 9 AM
Clear
Temp 50°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Wed 1 PM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Wed 5 PM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Overcast
High 70°F / Low 41°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 14 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Clear
High 70°F / Low 44°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 12 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Clear
High 71°F / Low 47°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 9 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Overcast
High 71°F / Low 54°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 18 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
Loading historical flow…
Fishing Overview
The Des Plaines River at Joliet meets the Kankakee southwest of the city and the two form the Illinois River.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Des Plaines River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Target species
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Regulated flow
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Popper-style surface flyGeneral warmwater surface family. Not an insect Hatch event.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral warmwater streamer family. Not a baitfish Hatch event.
- Crayfish-style flyGeneral subsurface family. Crayfish forage is not a Hatch insect.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Will, Illinois
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Will
Management Category
Inland warmwater river
Regulation Scope
Des Plaines River at Joliet.
Regulation Summary
Des Plaines River at Joliet: Illinois inland fishing regulations on the lower Des Plaines. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Common Carp
Access, Parking, and Regulations
Loading access and regulations…