Illinois
Kankakee River near Wilmington
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 05527500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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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
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
78°F
Feels like
89°F
Wind
2 mph SW
Wind gust
7 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 2:45 AM
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
Sat 3 AM
Clear
Temp 78°F
Chance 10%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 7 AM
Clear
Temp 76°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Sat 11 AM
Partly cloudy
Temp 86°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 3 PM
Clear
Temp 89°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Sat 7 PM
Clear
Temp 78°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Sat 11 PM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Partly cloudy
High 89°F / Low 72°F
Chance 10%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 24 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Overcast
High 81°F / Low 63°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 17 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 78°F / Low 59°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 20 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 85°F / Low 62°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 35 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
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Fishing Overview
Kankakee River near Wilmington, Illinois. Monitoring-Backed from USGS (live 00010, 00060, 00065). USGS 05527500 is the bounded Illinois Kankakee River State Park / Wilmington reach, not Momence 05520500, not Indiana Dunns Bridge 05517500, and not Shelby 05518000. Flow Context remains default-deny.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Kankakee 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
Fishery overview
The Kankakee near Wilmington is Illinois's bedrock-and-cobble smallmouth and walleye reach at Kankakee River State Park, downstream of the Momence wetlands and well downstream of Indiana Dunns Bridge. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 05527500 using live water temperature, discharge, and stage. This is not a clone of kankakee-river-at-dunns-bridge. Flow Context remains default-deny.
Target species
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Illinois Kankakee smallmouth near Wilmington / Kankakee River State Park. USGS 05527500 live 00010. Not Indiana Dunns Bridge 05517500 and not Momence 05520500.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Illinois Kankakee channel catfish near Wilmington.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
IDNR Illinois Kankakee walleye stocking; Wilmington and Kankakee are documented hotspots.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Northern pike are historically stronger on the upper Illinois Kankakee; present on this reach.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Higher-gradient Illinois Kankakee over bedrock and cobble through Kankakee River State Park and Wilmington, Will County, before the Des Plaines confluence. Distinct from the Indiana marsh-river FWA reach at Dunns Bridge and from Momence wetlands.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
IDNR Kankakee River State Park documents public river access on this stretch. Catalog coordinates are USGS 05527500.
Stocking information
IDNR stocks walleye on the Illinois Kankakee. Confirm current official iFishIllinois stocking records.
- Stocked
Walleye
Stocked · Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries
Official sources
Illinois inland fishing regulations apply. This pin is Illinois Kankakee River State Park / Wilmington water, not Indiana Dunns Bridge and not Momence. Confirm current official IDNR regulations.
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
Kankakee River near Wilmington
Regulation Summary
Kankakee River near Wilmington: Illinois inland fishing regulations at Kankakee River State Park. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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