Illinois State Record Brown Trout: 36 lb 11 oz
The Illinois state record brown trout weighed 36 lb 11 oz. It was caught in 1996 from Lake Michigan in Cook County, and the Illinois DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 30 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Michigan in Cook County. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Illinois lakes we do grade instead.
Brown Trout records by state
Illinois ranks 4 of 12 among the states in our index for record brown trout. Wisconsin holds the heaviest at 41 lb 8 oz, set in 2010.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | 41 lb 8 oz | 2010 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | Michigan | 41 lb 7 oz | 2009 | Manistee River |
| 3 | Missouri | 40 lb 6 oz | 2019 | Lake Taneycomo |
| 4 | Illinois (this page) | 36 lb 11 oz | 1996 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | New York | 33 lb 2 oz | 1997 | Lake Ontario |
| 6 | North Dakota | 31 lb 11 oz | 2005 | Missouri River |
| 7 | Indiana | 29 lb 5 oz | 2006 | Lake Michigan |
| 8 | South Dakota | 24 lb 8 oz | 1990 | Canyon Lake |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 20 lb 9 oz | 2020 | Lake Erie |
| 10 | Minnesota | 16 lb 12 oz | 1989 | Lake Superior |
| 11 | Iowa | 15 lb 6 oz | 1995 | North Prairie Lake |
| 12 | Ohio | 14 lb 11 oz | 2012 | Lake Erie |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside Illinois
5 of Illinois's 19 standing records are heavier than the 36 lb 11 oz brown trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 12 Illinois records have stood longer, the brown trout mark dating to 1996.