Illinois State Record Sauger: 5 lb 12 oz
The Illinois state record sauger weighed 5 lb 12 oz. It was caught in 1967 from Mississippi River in Jo Daviess County, and the Illinois DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 59 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Mississippi River in Jo Daviess 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.
Sauger records by state
Illinois ranks 7 of 9 among the states in our index for record sauger. North Dakota holds the heaviest at 8 lb 12 oz, set in 1971.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 8 lb 12 oz | 1971 | Lake Sakakawea |
| 2 | South Dakota | 7 lb 7 oz | 1960 | Oahe Tailwaters |
| 3 | Ohio | 7 lb 5 oz | 1981 | Maumee River |
| 4 | Michigan | 6 lb 9 oz | 1976 | Torch Lake |
| 5 | Iowa | 6 lb 8 oz | 1976 | Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) |
| 6 | Indiana | 6 lb 1 oz | 1983 | Tippecanoe River |
| 7 | Illinois (this page) | 5 lb 12 oz | 1967 | Mississippi River |
| 8 | Missouri | 5 lb 1 oz | 1994 | Osage River |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 4 lb | 2001 | Susquehanna 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
13 of Illinois's 19 standing records are heavier than the 5 lb 12 oz sauger — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. It is also the oldest record on the books, unbeaten since 1967.