Illinois River

Type: Freestone river, Arkansas (South)
Designation: Agency-named bass water
USGS gauges: None on it; nearest shown
Guides: 2 nearby
Shops: None listed

Today on the Illinois River

Good: Normal flow: fish normally

Flow now: 295 ft³/s
Vs normal for Nov 5: Normal
Water temp: 63.7°F (17.6°C)
Trend: Falling over 24 h
Last reading: Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST

At Illinois River near Watts, OK (USGS 07195500). No gauge on this reach of Illinois River. Nearest: Illinois River near Watts, OK (13.1 mi away), downstream on the same stream. Provisional USGS data

Regulations & access Guides & shops

The Illinois River is a freestone river in Arkansas, listed as Agency-named bass water by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

More about the Illinois River

The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled; Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lists 1 species. 2 guides nearby are listed here.

Updated 5 Nov 2026 · Sources: Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Streams, Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Streams, USGS Water Data

Representative photograph of similar water; not a photograph of this place. — Representative photograph, not this water.

Where it is

Illinois River is a freestone river in Arkansas.

Nearest gauge (not on this water)

Illinois River near Watts, OK

USGS 07195500 · NWS WTTO2

No gauge on this reach of Illinois River. Nearest: Illinois River near Watts, OK (13.1 mi away), downstream on the same stream.

Good: Normal flow: fish normally

The agency list on file names no trout here; for coldwater fish: reached 65.5°F at 4:30 PM CST, 63.7°F now: past Arkansas Game and Fish's 65°F line. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Flow 295 ft³/s: normal for Nov 5, over 71 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
Falling: discharge down 25.3% in 24 hours (395 to 295 ft³/s). Our rule of thumb: more than 10% (or 0.2 ft) in 24 hours, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage (official NWS category). That is not a statement that wading is safe. National Weather Service

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 295 ft³/s
Gauge height: 2.53 ft
Water temp: 63.7°F (17.6°C)

Reading Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST · provisional USGS data

Normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 295 ft³/s at Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)	Water temp (°F)
Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST	295	2.53	63.7
Nov 5, 3:30 PM CST	307	2.57	63.7
Nov 5, 2:30 PM CST	341	2.69	63.7
Nov 5, 1:30 PM CST	388	2.84	63.7
Nov 5, 12:30 PM CST	401	2.88	63.9
Nov 5, 11:30 AM CST	321	2.62	63.9
Nov 5, 10:30 AM CST	318	2.61	63.9
Nov 5, 9:30 AM CST	298	2.54	63.9
Nov 5, 8:30 AM CST	304	2.56	64
Nov 5, 7:30 AM CST	307	2.57	64
Nov 5, 6:30 AM CST	309	2.58	64.2
Nov 5, 5:30 AM CST	309	2.58	64.4
Nov 5, 4:30 AM CST	312	2.59	64.6
Nov 5, 3:30 AM CST	315	2.6	64.6
Nov 5, 2:30 AM CST	318	2.61	64.8
Nov 5, 1:30 AM CST	321	2.62	64.8
Nov 5, 12:30 AM CST	324	2.63	64.9
Nov 4, 11:30 PM CST	327	2.64	64.9
Nov 4, 10:30 PM CST	327	2.64	64.9
Nov 4, 9:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.1
Nov 4, 8:30 PM CST	318	2.61	65.1
Nov 4, 7:30 PM CST	307	2.57	65.1
Nov 4, 6:30 PM CST	295	2.53	65.3
Nov 4, 5:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.3
Nov 4, 4:30 PM CST	395	2.86	65.5
Nov 4, 3:30 PM CST	418	2.93	65.5
Nov 4, 2:30 PM CST	435	2.98	65.5
Nov 4, 1:30 PM CST	457	3.04	65.5
Nov 4, 12:30 PM CST	418	2.93	65.3
Nov 4, 11:30 AM CST	405	2.89	65.3
Nov 4, 10:30 AM CST	425	2.95	65.3
Nov 4, 9:30 AM CST	428	2.96	65.5
Nov 4, 8:30 AM CST	442	3	65.7
Nov 4, 7:30 AM CST	449	3.02	66
Nov 4, 6:30 AM CST	453	3.03	66.2
Nov 4, 5:30 AM CST	449	3.02	66.6
Nov 4, 4:30 AM CST	439	2.99	66.7
Nov 4, 3:30 AM CST	415	2.92	66.7
Nov 4, 2:30 AM CST	382	2.82	66.9
Nov 4, 1:30 AM CST	341	2.69	66.9
Nov 4, 12:30 AM CST	309	2.58	66.9
Nov 3, 11:30 PM CST	287	2.5	67.1
Nov 3, 10:30 PM CST	277	2.46	67.3
Nov 3, 9:30 PM CST	266	2.42	67.3
Nov 3, 8:30 PM CST	251	2.36	67.5
Nov 3, 7:30 PM CST	239	2.31	67.6
Nov 3, 6:30 PM CST	241	2.32	67.6
Nov 3, 5:30 PM CST	256	2.38	67.8
Nov 3, 4:30 PM CST	338	2.68	68
Nov 3, 3:30 PM CST	256	2.38	68
Nov 3, 2:30 PM CST	253	2.37	68
Nov 3, 1:30 PM CST	253	2.37	68
Nov 3, 12:30 PM CST	248	2.35	68
Nov 3, 11:30 AM CST	253	2.37	68
Nov 3, 10:30 AM CST	244	2.33	67.8
Nov 3, 9:30 AM CST	253	2.37	67.8
Nov 3, 8:30 AM CST	251	2.36	67.8
Nov 3, 7:30 AM CST	256	2.38	67.8
Nov 3, 6:30 AM CST	258	2.39	67.6
Nov 3, 5:30 AM CST	258	2.39	67.6
Nov 3, 4:30 AM CST	256	2.38	67.6
Nov 3, 3:30 AM CST	256	2.38	–
Nov 3, 2:30 AM CST	234	2.29	–
Nov 3, 1:30 AM CST	248	2.35	67.3
Nov 3, 12:30 AM CST	246	2.34	67.3
Nov 2, 11:30 PM CST	246	2.34	67.1
Nov 2, 10:30 PM CST	241	2.32	66.9
Nov 2, 9:30 PM CST	234	2.29	66.9
Nov 2, 8:30 PM CST	232	2.28	66.9
Nov 2, 7:30 PM CST	246	2.34	66.9
Nov 2, 6:30 PM CST	269	2.43	66.9
Nov 2, 5:30 PM CST	271	2.44	66.9
Nov 2, 4:30 PM CST	274	2.45	66.9
Nov 2, 3:30 PM CST	279	2.47	66.7
Nov 2, 2:30 PM CST	282	2.48	66.7
Nov 2, 1:30 PM CST	285	2.49	66.6
Nov 2, 12:30 PM CST	298	2.54	66.6
Nov 2, 11:30 AM CST	315	2.6	66.4
Nov 2, 10:30 AM CST	315	2.6	66.2
Nov 2, 9:30 AM CST	290	2.51	66.2
Nov 2, 8:30 AM CST	293	2.52	66
Nov 2, 7:30 AM CST	298	2.54	66.2
Nov 2, 6:30 AM CST	304	2.56	66.2
Nov 2, 5:30 AM CST	307	2.57	66.2
Nov 2, 4:30 AM CST	312	2.59	66
Nov 2, 3:30 AM CST	318	2.61	66
Nov 2, 2:30 AM CST	321	2.62	66
Nov 2, 1:30 AM CST	324	2.63	66
Nov 2, 12:30 AM CST	327	2.64	66
Nov 1, 11:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.8
Nov 1, 10:30 PM CST	318	2.61	65.8
Nov 1, 9:30 PM CST	301	2.55	65.8
Nov 1, 8:30 PM CST	277	2.46	65.7
Nov 1, 7:30 PM CST	282	2.48	65.7
Nov 1, 6:30 PM CST	347	2.71	65.8
Nov 1, 5:30 PM CST	338	2.68	65.8
Nov 1, 4:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.8
Nov 1, 3:30 PM CST	318	2.61	65.8
Nov 1, 2:30 PM CST	304	2.56	65.8
Nov 1, 1:30 PM CST	253	2.37	65.7
Nov 1, 12:30 PM CST	239	2.31	65.5
Nov 1, 11:30 AM CST	244	2.33	65.3
Nov 1, 10:30 AM CST	251	2.36	65.3
Nov 1, 9:30 AM CST	256	2.38	65.3
Nov 1, 8:30 AM CST	229	2.27	65.3
Nov 1, 7:30 AM CST	213	2.2	65.3
Nov 1, 6:30 AM CST	211	2.19	65.3
Nov 1, 5:30 AM CST	211	2.19	65.5
Nov 1, 4:30 AM CST	211	2.19	65.5
Nov 1, 3:30 AM CST	209	2.18	65.5
Nov 1, 2:30 AM CST	209	2.18	65.7
Nov 1, 1:30 AM CST	206	2.17	65.7
Nov 1, 1:30 AM CDT	206	2.17	65.8
Nov 1, 12:30 AM CDT	204	2.16	65.8
Oct 31, 11:30 PM CDT	202	2.15	65.8
Oct 31, 10:30 PM CDT	196	2.12	66
Oct 31, 9:30 PM CDT	183	2.06	66
Oct 31, 8:30 PM CDT	179	2.04	66
Oct 31, 7:30 PM CDT	163	1.96	66.2
Oct 31, 6:30 PM CDT	179	2.04	66.2
Oct 31, 5:30 PM CDT	200	2.14	66.2
Oct 31, 4:30 PM CDT	198	2.13	66.4
Oct 31, 3:30 PM CDT	193	2.11	66.4
Oct 31, 2:30 PM CDT	191	2.1	66.4
Oct 31, 1:30 PM CDT	189	2.09	66.4
Oct 31, 12:30 PM CDT	211	2.19	66.4
Oct 31, 11:30 AM CDT	220	2.23	66.4
Oct 31, 10:30 AM CDT	222	2.24	66.2
Oct 31, 9:30 AM CDT	204	2.16	66.2
Oct 31, 8:30 AM CDT	187	2.08	66.2
Oct 31, 7:30 AM CDT	187	2.08	66.2
Oct 31, 6:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	66.2
Oct 31, 5:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	66.4
Oct 31, 4:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	66.4
Oct 31, 3:30 AM CDT	183	2.06	66.6
Oct 31, 2:30 AM CDT	181	2.05	66.6
Oct 31, 1:30 AM CDT	175	2.02	66.6
Oct 31, 12:30 AM CDT	171	2	66.7
Oct 30, 11:30 PM CDT	161	1.95	66.7
Oct 30, 10:30 PM CDT	152	1.9	66.7
Oct 30, 9:30 PM CDT	145	1.86	66.9
Oct 30, 8:30 PM CDT	147	1.87	66.9
Oct 30, 7:30 PM CDT	173	2.01	66.9
Oct 30, 6:30 PM CDT	202	2.15	67.1
Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT	206	2.17	67.1
Oct 30, 4:30 PM CDT	209	2.18	67.1
Oct 30, 3:30 PM CDT	206	2.17	66.9
Oct 30, 2:30 PM CDT	200	2.14	66.9
Oct 30, 1:30 PM CDT	206	2.17	66.7
Oct 30, 12:30 PM CDT	213	2.2	66.6
Oct 30, 11:30 AM CDT	218	2.22	66.4
Oct 30, 10:30 AM CDT	215	2.21	66
Oct 30, 9:30 AM CDT	209	2.18	65.8
Oct 30, 8:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	65.8
Oct 30, 7:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	65.8
Oct 30, 6:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	65.8
Oct 30, 5:30 AM CDT	183	2.06	65.8
Oct 30, 4:30 AM CDT	181	2.05	66
Oct 30, 3:30 AM CDT	179	2.04	66.2
Oct 30, 2:30 AM CDT	177	2.03	66.2
Oct 30, 1:30 AM CDT	171	2	66.2
Oct 30, 12:30 AM CDT	163	1.96	66.4
Oct 29, 11:30 PM CDT	154	1.91	66.4
Oct 29, 10:30 PM CDT	147	1.87	66.6
Oct 29, 9:30 PM CDT	145	1.86	66.6
Oct 29, 8:30 PM CDT	163	1.96	66.7
Oct 29, 7:30 PM CDT	227	2.26	66.9
Oct 29, 6:30 PM CDT	234	2.29	66.9
Oct 29, 5:30 PM CDT	234	2.29	66.9

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 144–600 ft³/s (middle half of 71 years of record). Now: 295 ft³/s, normal.

Normal for this date. 295 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 71 years of record (1956–2026): 10th 101, 25th 144, median 236, 75th 600, 90th 1,410 ft³/s.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 48 ft³/s, highest 7,770 ft³/s.

Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).

Falling over 24 hours: discharge down 25.3%, from 395 to 295 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.

NWS observed 2.53 ft stage, 299 ft³/s at Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST (NWS gauge WTTO2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 13 ft
Minor flood: 13 ft
Moderate flood: 17 ft
Major flood: 23 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 7:39 AM CST. Highest point: 2.4 ft, 264 ft³/s on Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	2.4 ft	264 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	2.3 ft	239 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	2.3 ft	239 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	2.2 ft	216 ft³/s
Mon, Nov 9	2.1 ft	194 ft³/s
Tue, Nov 10	2.1 ft	194 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

Water temperature for trout, salmon and steelhead

The agency list on file names no trout, salmon or steelhead here; these are the lines for coldwater fish if you are after them.

Warming: fish the morning. Water 63.7°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 65.5°F. Arkansas Game and Fish: “Even at water temperatures ranging from 65 to 67 degrees, anglers may consider fishing only in the morning and using heavier gear to get fish in quickly, rather than adding undue stress from long fights.”
Keep Your Trout Healthy for the Next Angler on the Line (9 June 2026) (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)

Species

Species the agency lists for Illinois River: Smallmouth Bass.

Source: Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Streams (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission).

Safety

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)

Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.

Open the USGS gauge page

Checked Nov 5, 5:18 PM CST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.

Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Illinois River for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Arkansas where to fish map

Illinois River on the map

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Restrooms Access map

Map of Illinois River with 1 USGS gauge.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Illinois River

Restrooms within 2 miles of Illinois River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.

No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.

Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.

Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.

More water near Illinois River

Agency-named bass water
Photo credit
Bull Shoals Lake on a misty morning, Taney County, Missouri. Photo: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bull Shoals Lake
Arkansas · about 81 mi
Largemouth bass & panfish
Agency-named bass water
Photo credit
Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo National River
Arkansas · about 89 mi
Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass & panfish
353cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Running well now
Photo credit
Crooked Creek at Highway 14 in Yellville, Arkansas. Photo: Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Crooked Creek
Arkansas · about 91 mi
Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass & panfish
75.5cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Running well nowRepresentative photo · not War Eagle Creek
Photo credit
The White River near Flippin, Arkansas. Photo: James Powers (Jpowersok), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Not War Eagle Creek.
War Eagle Creek
Arkansas · about 28 mi
Smallmouth bass
43.9cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Running well nowRepresentative photo · not Kings River
Photo credit
The North Fork River tailwater downstream of Norfork Dam, Arkansas. Photo: Brandonrush, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kings River.
Kings River
Arkansas · about 46 mi
Smallmouth bass
63.7cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Freestone riverRepresentative photo · not Arkansas River
Photo credit
The Little Missouri River near Albert Pike, Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas. Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Arkansas River.
Arkansas River
Arkansas · about 50 mi
17,800cfsFlow now · normal for the date

Agency-named bass water
Photo credit
Bull Shoals Lake on a misty morning, Taney County, Missouri. Photo: Semipaw, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bull Shoals Lake
Arkansas · about 81 mi
Largemouth bass & panfish
Agency-named bass water
Photo credit
Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo National River
Arkansas · about 89 mi
Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass & panfish
Agency-named bass water
Photo credit
Crooked Creek at Highway 14 in Yellville, Arkansas. Photo: Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Crooked Creek
Arkansas · about 91 mi
Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass & panfish
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not War Eagle Creek
Photo credit
The White River near Flippin, Arkansas. Photo: James Powers (Jpowersok), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Not War Eagle Creek.
War Eagle Creek
Arkansas · about 28 mi
Smallmouth bass
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Kings River
Photo credit
The North Fork River tailwater downstream of Norfork Dam, Arkansas. Photo: Brandonrush, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kings River.
Kings River
Arkansas · about 46 mi
Smallmouth bass
Freestone riverRepresentative photo · not Arkansas River
Photo credit
The Little Missouri River near Albert Pike, Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas. Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Arkansas River.
Arkansas River
Arkansas · about 50 mi

Regulations

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

Official designation: Agency-named bass water

Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under bass.

Agency-named bass water
On the Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Streams list (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation

Public land along it

Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

CLO LandsState Land Board · restricted
Sparrowhawk Wildlife Management AreaState Fish and Wildlife · restricted

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Guides and shops near Illinois River

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

Guides

NWATROUT Fly Fishing Guide
Eureka Springs, AR · 36 mi
Beginners & lessons · White River
- Unclaimed
Nearby
View guide
Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service
Eureka Springs, AR · 38 mi
Walk-and-wade · Drift boat · White River
- Unclaimed
Nearby
View guide

All Arkansas guides

Shops nearby

No shop nearby yet.

All Arkansas shops

Species and hatches

The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.

Listed by the state agency

Smallmouth bass
Species guide
Photo credit
Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When the bugs come off

Smallmouth bass

Ozarks hatch chart

Plan your stay

Fishing lodges nearby

All lodges

Timber Ridge Lodge
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Fishing lodge · 9.6 mi
- Unclaimed

Getting there

XNA · Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers · 12 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
FSM · Fort Smith · 53 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
TUL · Tulsa · 87 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)

About this

Miles are straight-line distances, not drive times.
Airports: scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports (public domain) (2026-11-04).
Lodges are listed when their own website talks about fishing. Prices and availability are the lodge's own.

Plan a trip here

None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.

No hub within 40 miles

Plan a trip here

Gear checklist

A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.

An angler stands on a boulder at the edge of a fast forest stream and fishes the run

Small mountain streams

7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout

Open the checklist

Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

Seams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Illinois River.

No stories from here yet.

Write the first story Share your day

Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 12 sources and dates

A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.

Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: a point on the mapped channel of “Illinois River”, halfway along its length in Arkansas, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 4 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.

Illinois River near Watts, OK

USGS 07195500 · NWS WTTO2

No gauge on this reach of Illinois River. Nearest: Illinois River near Watts, OK (13.1 mi away), downstream on the same stream.

Good: Normal flow: fish normally

The agency list on file names no trout here; for coldwater fish: reached 65.5°F at 4:30 PM CST, 63.7°F now: past Arkansas Game and Fish's 65°F line. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Flow 295 ft³/s: normal for Nov 5, over 71 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
Falling: discharge down 25.3% in 24 hours (395 to 295 ft³/s). Our rule of thumb: more than 10% (or 0.2 ft) in 24 hours, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage (official NWS category). That is not a statement that wading is safe. National Weather Service

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 295 ft³/s
Gauge height: 2.53 ft
Water temp: 63.7°F (17.6°C)

Reading Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST · provisional USGS data

Normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 295 ft³/s at Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)	Water temp (°F)
Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST	295	2.53	63.7
Nov 5, 3:30 PM CST	307	2.57	63.7
Nov 5, 2:30 PM CST	341	2.69	63.7
Nov 5, 1:30 PM CST	388	2.84	63.7
Nov 5, 12:30 PM CST	401	2.88	63.9
Nov 5, 11:30 AM CST	321	2.62	63.9
Nov 5, 10:30 AM CST	318	2.61	63.9
Nov 5, 9:30 AM CST	298	2.54	63.9
Nov 5, 8:30 AM CST	304	2.56	64
Nov 5, 7:30 AM CST	307	2.57	64
Nov 5, 6:30 AM CST	309	2.58	64.2
Nov 5, 5:30 AM CST	309	2.58	64.4
Nov 5, 4:30 AM CST	312	2.59	64.6
Nov 5, 3:30 AM CST	315	2.6	64.6
Nov 5, 2:30 AM CST	318	2.61	64.8
Nov 5, 1:30 AM CST	321	2.62	64.8
Nov 5, 12:30 AM CST	324	2.63	64.9
Nov 4, 11:30 PM CST	327	2.64	64.9
Nov 4, 10:30 PM CST	327	2.64	64.9
Nov 4, 9:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.1
Nov 4, 8:30 PM CST	318	2.61	65.1
Nov 4, 7:30 PM CST	307	2.57	65.1
Nov 4, 6:30 PM CST	295	2.53	65.3
Nov 4, 5:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.3
Nov 4, 4:30 PM CST	395	2.86	65.5
Nov 4, 3:30 PM CST	418	2.93	65.5
Nov 4, 2:30 PM CST	435	2.98	65.5
Nov 4, 1:30 PM CST	457	3.04	65.5
Nov 4, 12:30 PM CST	418	2.93	65.3
Nov 4, 11:30 AM CST	405	2.89	65.3
Nov 4, 10:30 AM CST	425	2.95	65.3
Nov 4, 9:30 AM CST	428	2.96	65.5
Nov 4, 8:30 AM CST	442	3	65.7
Nov 4, 7:30 AM CST	449	3.02	66
Nov 4, 6:30 AM CST	453	3.03	66.2
Nov 4, 5:30 AM CST	449	3.02	66.6
Nov 4, 4:30 AM CST	439	2.99	66.7
Nov 4, 3:30 AM CST	415	2.92	66.7
Nov 4, 2:30 AM CST	382	2.82	66.9
Nov 4, 1:30 AM CST	341	2.69	66.9
Nov 4, 12:30 AM CST	309	2.58	66.9
Nov 3, 11:30 PM CST	287	2.5	67.1
Nov 3, 10:30 PM CST	277	2.46	67.3
Nov 3, 9:30 PM CST	266	2.42	67.3
Nov 3, 8:30 PM CST	251	2.36	67.5
Nov 3, 7:30 PM CST	239	2.31	67.6
Nov 3, 6:30 PM CST	241	2.32	67.6
Nov 3, 5:30 PM CST	256	2.38	67.8
Nov 3, 4:30 PM CST	338	2.68	68
Nov 3, 3:30 PM CST	256	2.38	68
Nov 3, 2:30 PM CST	253	2.37	68
Nov 3, 1:30 PM CST	253	2.37	68
Nov 3, 12:30 PM CST	248	2.35	68
Nov 3, 11:30 AM CST	253	2.37	68
Nov 3, 10:30 AM CST	244	2.33	67.8
Nov 3, 9:30 AM CST	253	2.37	67.8
Nov 3, 8:30 AM CST	251	2.36	67.8
Nov 3, 7:30 AM CST	256	2.38	67.8
Nov 3, 6:30 AM CST	258	2.39	67.6
Nov 3, 5:30 AM CST	258	2.39	67.6
Nov 3, 4:30 AM CST	256	2.38	67.6
Nov 3, 3:30 AM CST	256	2.38	–
Nov 3, 2:30 AM CST	234	2.29	–
Nov 3, 1:30 AM CST	248	2.35	67.3
Nov 3, 12:30 AM CST	246	2.34	67.3
Nov 2, 11:30 PM CST	246	2.34	67.1
Nov 2, 10:30 PM CST	241	2.32	66.9
Nov 2, 9:30 PM CST	234	2.29	66.9
Nov 2, 8:30 PM CST	232	2.28	66.9
Nov 2, 7:30 PM CST	246	2.34	66.9
Nov 2, 6:30 PM CST	269	2.43	66.9
Nov 2, 5:30 PM CST	271	2.44	66.9
Nov 2, 4:30 PM CST	274	2.45	66.9
Nov 2, 3:30 PM CST	279	2.47	66.7
Nov 2, 2:30 PM CST	282	2.48	66.7
Nov 2, 1:30 PM CST	285	2.49	66.6
Nov 2, 12:30 PM CST	298	2.54	66.6
Nov 2, 11:30 AM CST	315	2.6	66.4
Nov 2, 10:30 AM CST	315	2.6	66.2
Nov 2, 9:30 AM CST	290	2.51	66.2
Nov 2, 8:30 AM CST	293	2.52	66
Nov 2, 7:30 AM CST	298	2.54	66.2
Nov 2, 6:30 AM CST	304	2.56	66.2
Nov 2, 5:30 AM CST	307	2.57	66.2
Nov 2, 4:30 AM CST	312	2.59	66
Nov 2, 3:30 AM CST	318	2.61	66
Nov 2, 2:30 AM CST	321	2.62	66
Nov 2, 1:30 AM CST	324	2.63	66
Nov 2, 12:30 AM CST	327	2.64	66
Nov 1, 11:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.8
Nov 1, 10:30 PM CST	318	2.61	65.8
Nov 1, 9:30 PM CST	301	2.55	65.8
Nov 1, 8:30 PM CST	277	2.46	65.7
Nov 1, 7:30 PM CST	282	2.48	65.7
Nov 1, 6:30 PM CST	347	2.71	65.8
Nov 1, 5:30 PM CST	338	2.68	65.8
Nov 1, 4:30 PM CST	327	2.64	65.8
Nov 1, 3:30 PM CST	318	2.61	65.8
Nov 1, 2:30 PM CST	304	2.56	65.8
Nov 1, 1:30 PM CST	253	2.37	65.7
Nov 1, 12:30 PM CST	239	2.31	65.5
Nov 1, 11:30 AM CST	244	2.33	65.3
Nov 1, 10:30 AM CST	251	2.36	65.3
Nov 1, 9:30 AM CST	256	2.38	65.3
Nov 1, 8:30 AM CST	229	2.27	65.3
Nov 1, 7:30 AM CST	213	2.2	65.3
Nov 1, 6:30 AM CST	211	2.19	65.3
Nov 1, 5:30 AM CST	211	2.19	65.5
Nov 1, 4:30 AM CST	211	2.19	65.5
Nov 1, 3:30 AM CST	209	2.18	65.5
Nov 1, 2:30 AM CST	209	2.18	65.7
Nov 1, 1:30 AM CST	206	2.17	65.7
Nov 1, 1:30 AM CDT	206	2.17	65.8
Nov 1, 12:30 AM CDT	204	2.16	65.8
Oct 31, 11:30 PM CDT	202	2.15	65.8
Oct 31, 10:30 PM CDT	196	2.12	66
Oct 31, 9:30 PM CDT	183	2.06	66
Oct 31, 8:30 PM CDT	179	2.04	66
Oct 31, 7:30 PM CDT	163	1.96	66.2
Oct 31, 6:30 PM CDT	179	2.04	66.2
Oct 31, 5:30 PM CDT	200	2.14	66.2
Oct 31, 4:30 PM CDT	198	2.13	66.4
Oct 31, 3:30 PM CDT	193	2.11	66.4
Oct 31, 2:30 PM CDT	191	2.1	66.4
Oct 31, 1:30 PM CDT	189	2.09	66.4
Oct 31, 12:30 PM CDT	211	2.19	66.4
Oct 31, 11:30 AM CDT	220	2.23	66.4
Oct 31, 10:30 AM CDT	222	2.24	66.2
Oct 31, 9:30 AM CDT	204	2.16	66.2
Oct 31, 8:30 AM CDT	187	2.08	66.2
Oct 31, 7:30 AM CDT	187	2.08	66.2
Oct 31, 6:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	66.2
Oct 31, 5:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	66.4
Oct 31, 4:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	66.4
Oct 31, 3:30 AM CDT	183	2.06	66.6
Oct 31, 2:30 AM CDT	181	2.05	66.6
Oct 31, 1:30 AM CDT	175	2.02	66.6
Oct 31, 12:30 AM CDT	171	2	66.7
Oct 30, 11:30 PM CDT	161	1.95	66.7
Oct 30, 10:30 PM CDT	152	1.9	66.7
Oct 30, 9:30 PM CDT	145	1.86	66.9
Oct 30, 8:30 PM CDT	147	1.87	66.9
Oct 30, 7:30 PM CDT	173	2.01	66.9
Oct 30, 6:30 PM CDT	202	2.15	67.1
Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT	206	2.17	67.1
Oct 30, 4:30 PM CDT	209	2.18	67.1
Oct 30, 3:30 PM CDT	206	2.17	66.9
Oct 30, 2:30 PM CDT	200	2.14	66.9
Oct 30, 1:30 PM CDT	206	2.17	66.7
Oct 30, 12:30 PM CDT	213	2.2	66.6
Oct 30, 11:30 AM CDT	218	2.22	66.4
Oct 30, 10:30 AM CDT	215	2.21	66
Oct 30, 9:30 AM CDT	209	2.18	65.8
Oct 30, 8:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	65.8
Oct 30, 7:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	65.8
Oct 30, 6:30 AM CDT	185	2.07	65.8
Oct 30, 5:30 AM CDT	183	2.06	65.8
Oct 30, 4:30 AM CDT	181	2.05	66
Oct 30, 3:30 AM CDT	179	2.04	66.2
Oct 30, 2:30 AM CDT	177	2.03	66.2
Oct 30, 1:30 AM CDT	171	2	66.2
Oct 30, 12:30 AM CDT	163	1.96	66.4
Oct 29, 11:30 PM CDT	154	1.91	66.4
Oct 29, 10:30 PM CDT	147	1.87	66.6
Oct 29, 9:30 PM CDT	145	1.86	66.6
Oct 29, 8:30 PM CDT	163	1.96	66.7
Oct 29, 7:30 PM CDT	227	2.26	66.9
Oct 29, 6:30 PM CDT	234	2.29	66.9
Oct 29, 5:30 PM CDT	234	2.29	66.9

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 144–600 ft³/s (middle half of 71 years of record). Now: 295 ft³/s, normal.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 48 ft³/s, highest 7,770 ft³/s.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.

NWS observed 2.53 ft stage, 299 ft³/s at Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST (NWS gauge WTTO2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 13 ft
Minor flood: 13 ft
Moderate flood: 17 ft
Major flood: 23 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 7:39 AM CST. Highest point: 2.4 ft, 264 ft³/s on Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	2.4 ft	264 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	2.3 ft	239 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	2.3 ft	239 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	2.2 ft	216 ft³/s
Mon, Nov 9	2.1 ft	194 ft³/s
Tue, Nov 10	2.1 ft	194 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

Water temperature for trout, salmon and steelhead

The agency list on file names no trout, salmon or steelhead here; these are the lines for coldwater fish if you are after them.

Warming: fish the morning. Water 63.7°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 65.5°F. Arkansas Game and Fish: “Even at water temperatures ranging from 65 to 67 degrees, anglers may consider fishing only in the morning and using heavier gear to get fish in quickly, rather than adding undue stress from long fights.”
Keep Your Trout Healthy for the Next Angler on the Line (9 June 2026) (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)

Species

Species the agency lists for Illinois River: Smallmouth Bass.

Source: Blue Ribbon Smallmouth Streams (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission).

Safety

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)

Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.

Open the USGS gauge page