Illinois State Record Coho Salmon: 20 lb 9 oz
The Illinois state record coho salmon weighed 20 lb 9 oz. It was caught in 1972 from Lake Michigan in Lake County, and the Illinois DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 54 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Michigan in Lake 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.
Coho Salmon records by state
Illinois ranks 4 of 6 among the states in our index for record coho salmon. New York holds the heaviest at 33 lb 7 oz, set in 1998.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 33 lb 7 oz | 1998 | Lake Ontario |
| 2 | Michigan | 30 lb 9 oz | 1976 | Platte River |
| 3 | Indiana | 20 lb 12 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan |
| 4 | Illinois (this page) | 20 lb 9 oz | 1972 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 15 lb 5 oz | 1985 | Lake Erie |
| 6 | Ohio | 13 lb 10 oz | 1982 | Huron River |
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
9 of Illinois's 19 standing records are heavier than the 20 lb 9 oz coho salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 Illinois records have stood longer, the coho salmon mark dating to 1972.