seanf

I am sure the anti's would use throwing shot fish back as amunition for there cause, so I am not asking if it is a good idea. Rather is it legal in Illinois to throw fish back? I think some states require you take the fish with you and dispose of "properly".

Terasec

Most states don't allow you to discard dead fish within a certain distance of a waterway.
Like NY its within 150' of a waterway.
Whether its a shot fish, dead bait, fish that died while handling, etc...
In ny cannot be thrown back in the water.
There are grey areas, that I would leave up to the individual.
Such as what to do with an undersize fish. Or out of season fish that dies in your possession?

robow7

I know in KY one time, we had a couple barrels of bighead carp and we were going to bring them back for my organic farmer friend and the a DNR stopped me at the ramp and told me I was not to procede up onto the shore with them but rather he wanted me to go right back out into the middle of the river and dump them. I think he was afraid that I was going to just dump them anywhere on land then of course you have a huge smell mess of about 800 lbs or more of rotting fish.

carpsniper

Sean, There's no short answer for this in IL. The best thing to do is take them with you and utilize them as best you can. When in doubt follow the rules as laid out in the fishing digest.

However there are two places I can think of off the top of my head (Rend and Carlyle spilways) that have signs posted suggesting you throw them back. The intention here is that people don't leave unwanted fish on the bank or ramp.
I also have heard a CPO, that I won't name, say "I can't determine if that fish will live." Meaning that if we were to throw a shot fish back, it wouldn't necessarily be against the law. NOTE: this was one CPO. The one for your area might feel differently about this.

Red Ash Outdoors

here's two of the many signs around the spillway at Rend Lake

Bulzeye

I had no idea that the management of certain places wanted you to return the fish to the water. That is GOOD INFO! Thank you for sharing.

carptracker

Thats bizarre. You can't even keep fish for the table?

carpsniper

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to take your fish with you.

Short answer is that they don't want fish left on the bank of a high use area.

carptracker

Well that's good. From the sign, I thought maybe you couldn't leave the water with them. I was wondering if maybe it was a contaminant issue.

Bulzeye

It does appear that way. They must assume that none are ever eaten.