Illinois State Record Fish 2026: All 19 Official Records
All 19 verified Illinois record fish from the Illinois DNR. The heaviest is the Blue Catfish at 124 lb, caught in 2005 on Mississippi River. The oldest standing record is the Sauger from 1967.
The official Illinois state-fishing-records list is kept by Illinois DNR. Records range from prized gamefish like walleye, muskie, and bass to less-targeted species, and every one has been weighed and verified to the agency's standards.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in Illinois water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside the LakeQuality grade rubric is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the cleanest, highest-grade waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the grade distribution.
Record Fish by Species
Illinois State Record Walleye
The Illinois state record walleye weighed 15 lb 1 oz, caught in 2012 from Pecatonica River in Winnebago County. Full walleye record →
Illinois State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Illinois state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 3 oz, caught in 2019 from Lake Michigan in Cook County. Full smallmouth bass record →
Illinois State Record Largemouth Bass
The Illinois state record largemouth bass weighed 13 lb 1 oz, caught in 1976 from Stone Quarry Lake in Lake County. Full largemouth bass record →
Illinois State Record Muskellunge
The Illinois state record muskellunge weighed 38 lb 8 oz, caught in 2002 from Kaskaskia River in Shelby County. Full muskellunge record →
Illinois State Record Northern Pike
The Illinois state record northern pike weighed 26 lb 15 oz, caught in 1989 from Strip Mine in Kankakee County. Full northern pike record →
Illinois State Record Lake Trout
The Illinois state record lake trout weighed 39 lb 2 oz, caught in 2021 from Lake Michigan in Cook County. Full lake trout record →
All Illinois Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 15 lb 1 oz | — | 2012 | Pecatonica River | Winnebago | — |
| Sauger | 5 lb 12 oz | — | 1967 | Mississippi River | Jo Daviess | — |
| Northern Pike | 26 lb 15 oz | — | 1989 | Strip Mine | Kankakee | — |
| Muskellunge | 38 lb 8 oz | — | 2002 | Kaskaskia River | Shelby | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 13 lb 1 oz | — | 1976 | Stone Quarry Lake | Lake | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 lb 3 oz | — | 2019 | Lake Michigan | Cook | — |
| White Bass | 4 lb 14 oz | — | 1981 | Kaskaskia River | Clinton | — |
| Striped Bass | 31 lb 7 oz | — | 1994 | Sangchris Lake | Christian | — |
| Lake Trout | 39 lb 2 oz | — | 2021 | Lake Michigan | Cook | — |
| Brown Trout | 36 lb 11 oz | — | 1996 | Lake Michigan | Cook | — |
| Rainbow Trout | 31 lb 6 oz | — | 1993 | Lake Michigan | Lake | — |
| Channel Catfish | 45 lb 4 oz | — | 1987 | Baldwin Lake | St. Clair | — |
| Flathead Catfish | 81 lb 6 oz | — | 2005 | Sangchris Lake | Christian | — |
| Blue Catfish | 124 lb | — | 2005 | Mississippi River | Madison | — |
| Black Crappie | 4 lb 8 oz | — | 1976 | Rend Lake | Franklin | — |
| White Crappie | 4 lb 7 oz | — | 1973 | Farm Pond | Morgan | — |
| Bluegill | 3 lb 8 oz | — | 1973 | Farm Pond | Jasper | — |
| Yellow Perch | 2 lb 8 oz | — | 1974 | Arrowhead Club Lake | Will | — |
| Coho Salmon | 20 lb 9 oz | — | 1972 | Lake Michigan | Lake | — |
Records by Decade
When each standing Illinois record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Illinois Records Are Verified
Illinois DNR requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Illinois DNR records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking, state record fish in every state, and the Illinois lake directory.