Illinois Statutes Chapter 515. Fish § 5/15-130. Gill or trammel net

§ 15-130. Gill or trammel net. It shall be unlawful to use a gill or trammel net except in the Mississippi River, in the Ohio River, and in the Illinois River from its mouth up to the Illinois River bridge, Highway Route 89, including adjacent backwaters but not above the mouth of any stream, ditch, or tributary connected to these backwaters. No gill or trammel net shall be less than 100 feet in length.

All gill or trammel nets that are set in any body of water shall be under the immediate supervision of the operator, who may be the licensee or his or her employee, except (i) from May 1 to September 30, (ii) when the nets are set under the ice, (iii) from sunset to sunrise, or (iv) as specified by administrative rule. Immediate supervision shall be defined as the operator being on the waters where the nets are set to be readily available to identify the nets to law enforcement officers empowered to enforce this Code. It shall be unlawful for any employee on any one day to lift or attend nets of more than one licensee.

All gill or trammel nets set under the ice shall be at a distance of not less than 100 yards from any natural opening in the ice.

A net shall be defined as a “trammel net” for the purposes of enforcing this Code if: (i) there are no less than 3 panels of mesh tied to a single float and lead line; (ii) the outer panels of mesh are constructed of a number 9 or larger diameter twine; (iii) the outer panels of mesh are diamond shaped and no greater than 40 inch bar measure; and (iv) the inner panel of mesh is not less than 2 inches bar measure.

A net shall be defined as a “gill net” for the purposes of enforcing this Code if it is constructed of a single panel of mesh that is not less than 3 inches bar measure that is tied to a single float and lead line.

The Department may modify provisions of this Section as provided in Section 1-135.