The Apple River is a freestone river in Illinois, listed as Agency-named bass water by Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow; Illinois Department of Natural Resources lists 1 species.
Apple River is a freestone river in Illinois.
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.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
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.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Apple River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Apple River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Apple 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.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Pecatonica RiverThe Kickapoo River in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, from the air. Photo: Wikideas1, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Pecatonica River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Pine Creek
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Kent CreekThe Pere Marquette River in autumn, Manistee National Forest. Photo: Yetiwriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kent Creek.
Illinois · about 61 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Rock RiverThe Muskegon River near Newaygo, Michigan. Photo: Marc Steensma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rock River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not South Branch Kishwaukee RiverThe Whitewater River in Whitewater State Park, Minnesota. Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Kishwaukee River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Kishwaukee RiverThe Boardman River in the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, near Traverse City. Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kishwaukee River.
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
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 trout, bass.
On the Site-specific smallmouth bass regulations on rivers and creeks list (Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
On the Catchable Trout Program streams (site-specific trout seasons) list (Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
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.
1.7 of 52.4 mi on public land
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No guide within 40 miles yet.
No shop nearby yet.
The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.
Listed by the state agency
Species guide
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
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
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.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, 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.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
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.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Apple River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
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: the USGS gauge APPLE RIVER NEAR HANOVER, IL. Water type is our own classification.
Good: Normal flow: fish normally
No water temperature here.
At APPLE RIVER NEAR HANOVER, IL (USGS 05419000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 05419000 · NWS APRI2
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 7:00 PM CDT to Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST; ranging 68.5 to 183 ft³/s; latest 126 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST | 126 | 4.3 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST | 136 | 4.32 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST | 136 | 4.32 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST | 131 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST | 131 | 4.31 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM CST | 136 | 4.32 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM CST | 136 | 4.32 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM CST | 136 | 4.32 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM CST | 147 | 4.34 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM CST | 147 | 4.34 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM CST | 152 | 4.35 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM CST | 147 | 4.34 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM CST | 152 | 4.35 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM CST | 152 | 4.35 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST | 158 | 4.36 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST | 158 | 4.36 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM CST | 158 | 4.36 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM CST | 170 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM CST | 170 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM CST | 170 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM CST | 176 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM CST | 170 | 4.38 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM CST | 176 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM CST | 176 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM CST | 176 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM CST | 183 | 4.4 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM CST | 176 | 4.39 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM CST | 176 | 4.39 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM CST | 158 | 4.36 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM CST | 152 | 4.35 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM CST | 164 | 4.37 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM CST | 152 | 4.35 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM CST | 158 | 4.36 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM CST | 136 | 4.32 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM CST | 141 | 4.33 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM CST | 131 | 4.31 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM CST | 126 | 4.3 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM CST | 121 | 4.29 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM CST | 116 | 4.28 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM CST | 97.9 | 4.24 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM CST | 97.9 | 4.24 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM CST | 102 | 4.25 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM CST | 97.9 | 4.24 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM CST | 97.9 | 4.24 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM CST | 93.9 | 4.23 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM CST | 93.9 | 4.23 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM CST | 93.9 | 4.23 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM CST | 93.9 | 4.23 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM CST | 90 | 4.22 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM CST | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM CST | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM CST | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM CST | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM CST | 71.9 | 4.17 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM CST | 68.5 | 4.16 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM CST | 68.5 | 4.16 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM CST | 71.9 | 4.17 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM CST | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM CST | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM CST | 68.5 | 4.16 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM CDT | 71.9 | 4.17 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM CDT | 90 | 4.22 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM CDT | 71.9 | 4.17 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM CDT | 75.3 | 4.18 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT | 78.8 | 4.19 |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM CDT | 82.5 | 4.2 |
| Oct 29, 7:00 PM CDT | 86.2 | 4.21 |
Normal for Nov 5: 47–143 ft³/s (middle half of 92 years of record). Now: 126 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 126 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 92 years of record (1935–2026): 10th 30, 25th 47, median 84, 75th 143, 90th 297 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 9 ft³/s, highest 1,320 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 20.3%, from 158 to 126 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.
NWS observed 4.3 ft stage, 126 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST (NWS gauge APRI2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS has not set flood categories for this gauge.
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Illinois DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Illinois rule: 68°F.
Species the agency lists for Apple River: Smallmouth Bass.
Source: Site-specific smallmouth bass regulations on rivers and creeks (Illinois Department of Natural Resources).
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.
Checked Nov 5, 5:58 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.
Running well nowRepresentative photo · not Pecatonica RiverThe Kickapoo River in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, from the air. Photo: Wikideas1, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Pecatonica River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Pine CreekCatch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Kent CreekThe Pere Marquette River in autumn, Manistee National Forest. Photo: Yetiwriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kent Creek.
Illinois · about 61 mi
Running well nowRepresentative photo · not Rock RiverThe Muskegon River near Newaygo, Michigan. Photo: Marc Steensma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Rock River.
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not South Branch Kishwaukee RiverThe Whitewater River in Whitewater State Park, Minnesota. Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Kishwaukee River.
Illinois · about 72 mi
Smallmouth bass
113cfsFlow now · much above normal for the date
Running well nowRepresentative photo · not Kishwaukee RiverThe Boardman River in the Brown Bridge Quiet Area, near Traverse City. Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kishwaukee River.
Elizabeth, Illinois
Guest ranch · 8.6 mi
