515 ILCS 5/25-5: Aquatic life preserves; regulation of devices.

All waters in the State including boundary waters under jurisdiction of the State shall be aquatic life preserves.

Sport fishing devices, except as provided in this Code and its administrative rules, are the only lawful means of taking aquatic life.

The Department of Natural Resources, however, has the authority through administrative rule to prohibit all sport fishing or certain sport fishing devices in designated waters and also has the authority through administrative rule to allow commercial fishing in designated waters by regulating commercial fishing devices used in the interest of the total management of the fishery resource.