[Nervous Nick]

Someone today insisted to me that chumming is "highly illegal" in Illinois. I told him that I didn't think there were any statewide restrictions on chumming, as long as an angler doesn't litter.

I could find no reference at all to "chumming" in the DNR fishing regulations. Does anyone here have the straight dope on this? Does IDNR have any regulations specifically concerning chumming, or can I bitch slap this guy the next time I see him?

[dylanapollo]

I couldn't find anything specifically AGAINST chumming. I did find a couple of things regarding fish parts, Baitfish and pollution. I put those below. I think that if you go out to the river/lake and start throwing a bunch of fish guts in that they might get you with the illinois fish cleaning rule. Probably depends on how much you are doing. If you are out there with cans of corn and you get the right cop he might get you for pollution. Also, I have heard that kernel corn is not very good for fish. I use it sometimes as bait for carp but throwing out tons of it in areas where other fish are liable to eat it may be frowned upon (probably not illegal though). For the ice fisherman I did find a thing regarding leaving trees/limbs and such on the ice AND in the water as being illegal as well. I'm sure doing it as a crib on your own pond is ok; however, I have seen folks on the ice shove a limb or two down the hole. Probably get you in trouble on a IL lake. In general I think again it's up to the cop and the amount of crap you are putting into the water. Come on it's freshwater how many bloody fish guts do you need floating in the water anyway?

Illinois reg's regarding fish guts
No fish entrails or carcass may be disposed of
into the waters of Illinois after cleaning. No fish
species may be dressed (filleted or head and
tail removed) on any waters to which length
limits are applicable

Pollution
It is unlawful for waste or sewage to be discharged
into waters so as to kill aquatic life.
It is also unlawful to abandon or deposit wire,
cans, bottles, glass, paper, trash, rubbish,
cardboard, wood cartons, boxes, trees, brush
or other insoluble materials into the water or
on the ice, or at any place on the bank where
such debris is liable to be washed into the
water. Strict penalties are provided for violation
of this section of the statute.

BLUEGILL AS BAIT
There is nothing in the Illinois Fish Code which
prohibits the use of legally taken bluegill or sunfish
as bait for another species of fish. The
bluegill/sunfish must have been taken by a
properly licensed sport fisherman using legal
sportfishing devices. You must also observe all
size and creel limits both where the
bluegill/sunfish were taken and where they are
being used as bait. Also, it is illegal to cut up
or dress or be in possession of cut up or
dressed fish on any body of water where there
is a size limit for that particular species of fish.

[fishchris]

IVE USED THE LEFTOVER BAIT {FATHEADS, ROACHES] THAT I FREEZE FROM LEFTOVERS AS CHUM ....ASKED THE DNR ABPOUT IT. AS LONG AS IT IS NOT SPORT FISH WITH SITE SPECIFIC REGS OR FISH YOU HAVE CLEANED {GUTS} HE SAW NO PROBLEM WITH IT....HOWEVER THAT WAS ONE AGENT NOT THE OFFICIAL ANSWER FROM SPRINGFIELD......

[digitalbluecat]

It's legal, I use corn and oats all the time for carp and inland trout