Illinois State Record Northern Pike: 26 lb 15 oz
The Illinois state record northern pike weighed 26 lb 15 oz. It was caught in 1989 from Strip Mine in Kankakee County, and the Illinois DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 37 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Strip Mine in Kankakee 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.
Northern Pike records by state
Illinois ranks 9 of 12 among the states in our index for record northern pike. New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz, set in 1940.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 46 lb 2 oz | 1940 | Great Sacandaga Lake |
| 2 | Minnesota | 45 lb 12 oz | 1929 | Basswood Lake |
| 3 | Michigan | 39 lb | 1961 | Dodge Lake |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 38 lb | 1952 | Lake Puckaway |
| 5 | North Dakota | 37 lb 8 oz | 1968 | Lake Sakakawea |
| 6 | South Dakota | 36 lb 3 oz | 1993 | Lake Oahe |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 35 lb | 2003 | Allegheny Reservoir |
| 8 | Indiana | 30 lb 2 oz | 1992 | Clear Lake |
| 9 | Illinois (this page) | 26 lb 15 oz | 1989 | Strip Mine |
| 10 | Iowa | 25 lb 5 oz | 1977 | West Okoboji Lake |
| 11 | Ohio | 22 lb 12 oz | 2016 | McKarns Lake |
| 12 | Missouri | 18 lb 9 oz | 1975 | Stockton Lake |
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
8 of Illinois's 19 standing records are heavier than the 26 lb 15 oz northern pike — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 9 Illinois records have stood longer, the northern pike mark dating to 1989.