Illinois State Record Rainbow Trout: 31 lb 6 oz
The Illinois state record rainbow trout weighed 31 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1993 from Lake Michigan in Lake County, and the Illinois DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 33 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.
Rainbow Trout records by state
Illinois ranks 1 of 12 among the states in our index for record rainbow trout. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois (this page) | 31 lb 6 oz | 1993 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | New York | 31 lb 3 oz | 2004 | Lake Ontario |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 27 lb 2 oz | 1997 | Lake Michigan |
| 4 | Michigan | 26 lb 8 oz | 1975 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | Ohio | 21 lb 5 oz | 2010 | Lake Erie |
| 6 | North Dakota | 21 lb 4 oz | 1998 | Missouri River |
| 7 | Iowa | 19 lb 8 oz | 1984 | French Creek |
| 8 | South Dakota | 19 lb 4 oz | 1980 | Oahe Tailwaters |
| 9 | Indiana | 18 lb 8 oz | 1988 | Clear Lake |
| 10 | Missouri | 18 lb 1 oz | 2004 | Roaring River |
| 11 | Minnesota | 17 lb 6 oz | 1980 | Knife River |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 15 lb 6 oz | 1986 | Jordan Creek |
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
7 of Illinois's 19 standing records are heavier than the 31 lb 6 oz rainbow trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 10 Illinois records have stood longer, the rainbow trout mark dating to 1993.