Updated: February 2024
The following table contains the current Illinois state fishing records.
For anyone who believes they might have legally caught a game fish that’s larger than the ones listed below, be sure to follow the Illinois guidelines to certify your record catch. You’ll find a link to resources at the bottom of this article.
Illinois Fishing Records
| Bass, Hybrid Striped 21 lbs, 7.2 oz | Lake Bloomington, Mclean County | Jun 12, 2017 |
| Bass, Largemouth 13 lbs, 1 oz | Stone Quarry Lake, Lake County | Feb 15, 1976 |
| Bass, Rock 1 lbs, 10 oz | Aux Sable Creek, Grundy County | May 5, 1987 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 7 lbs, 3 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | Oct 14, 2019 |
| Bass, Spotted 7 lbs, 3.12 oz | Strip Mine, Fulton County | Mar 15, 1992 |
| Bass, Striped 31 lbs, 7 oz | Sangchris Lake, Christian County | May 23, 1994 |
| Bass, White 4 lbs, 14 oz | Kaskaskia River, Clinton County | Oct 7, 1981 |
| Bass, Yellow 2 lbs, 0 oz | Farm Pond, Madison County | May 5, 1994 |
| Bass, Yellow Hybrid 2 lb, 0.96 oz | Rend Lake, Franklin County | Nov 3, 2008 |
| Bowfin (tie) 16 lbs, 6 oz | Rend Lake, Jefferson County | Sep 23, 1984 |
| Bowfin (tie) 16 lbs, 6 oz | Bay Creek, Pope County | Sep 14, 1992 |
| Buffalo (Bigmouth and Smallmouth) 48 lbs, 0 oz | Mississippi River, Adams County | 1936 |
| Buffalo, Black 23 lbs, 12 oz | Rock River, Lee County | Jul 27, 1984 |
| Burbot 11 lbs, 12.5 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | Dec 7, 2020 |
| Carp, Common 51 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Hillcrest, Madison County | May 1, 1994 |
| Carp, Bighead 72 lb, 9 oz | Humboldt Park Lagoon, Cook County | Nov 8, 2021 |
| Carp, Grass 74 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Galena, Jo Daviess County | May 22, 2015 |
| Catfish, Black Bullhead 5 lbs, 6 oz | Strip Mine, Fulton County | Apr 24, 1988 |
| Catfish, Blue 124 lbs, 0 oz | Mississippi River, Madison County | May 21, 2005 |
| Catfish, Brown Bullhead 3 lbs, 4.8 oz. | Emiquon Lake, Fulton County | May 8, 2017 |
| Catfish, Channel 45 lbs, 4 oz | Baldwin Lake, St. Clair County | Feb 7, 1987 |
| Catfish, Flathead 81 lbs, 6.4 oz | Sangchris Lake, Christian County | Aug 29, 2015 |
| Catfish, Yellow Bullhead 5 lbs, 4 oz | Fox River, Kane County | 1955 |
| Crappie, Black 4 lbs, 8 oz | Rend Lake, Franklin County | May 5, 1976 |
| Crappie, Hybrid 4 lbs, 8.8 oz | Kinkaid Lake, Jackson County | Mar 28, 2017 |
| Crappie, White 4 lbs, 7 oz | Farm Pond, Morgan County | Apr 8, 1973 |
| Drum, Freshwater 38 lbs, 4 oz | Clinton Lake, Dewitt County | May 24, 2018 |
| Gar, Longnose 22 lbs, 1 oz | Ohio River, Massac County | May 6, 2006 |
| Gar, Shortnose 6 lbs, 15.2 oz | Horseshoe Lake, Madison County | May 27, 2018 |
| Gar, Spotted 8 lbs, 14.7 oz | Kidd Lake Canal, Monroe County | Jul 6, 2022 |
| Goldeye 2 lbs, 1 oz | Embarras River, Cumberland County | Jul 26, 1998 |
| Herring, Skipjack 2 lbs, 10.4 oz | Illinois River, LaSalle County | May 11, 2022 |
| Hogsucker, Northern 1 lb, 12.3 oz | Little Vermilion River, LaSalle County | May 22, 1971 |
| Muskellunge 38 lbs, 8 oz | Kaskaskia River, Shelby County | Apr 20, 2002 |
| Muskie, Tiger 31 lbs, 3 oz | Lake Will, Will County | Aug 6, 2004 |
| Perch, Yellow 2 lbs, 8.75 oz | Arrowhead Club Lake, Will County | Jan 5, 1974 |
| Pike, Northern 26 lbs, 15 oz | Strip Mine Lake, Kankakee County | Nov 9, 1989 |
| Redhorse, Shorthead 4 lbs, 12.8 oz | Big Rock Creek, Kendall County | Apr 9, 2021 |
| Redhorse, Silver 6 lbs, 11.4 oz | Fox River, Kane County | Apr 24, 2008 |
| Salmon, Atlantic 18 lbs, 11.25 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | May 26, 1979 |
| Salmon, Chinook 37 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Michigan, Lake County | Aug 7, 1976 |
| Salmon, Coho 20 lbs, 9 oz | Lake Michigan, Lake County | May 24, 1972 |
| Salmon, Pink 4 lbs, 14.4 oz | Lake Michigan, Lake County | Aug 4, 2022 |
| Sauger 5 lbs, 12.5 oz | Mississippi River, Jo Daviess County | Jul 30, 1967 |
| Sauger-Walleye Hybrid 9 lbs, 10.88 oz | Evergreen Lake, Mclean County | Dec 7, 2001 |
| Sturgeon, Shovelnose 12 lbs, 15 oz | Rock River, Whiteside County | Jan 4, 2024 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill 3 lbs, 8 oz | Farm Pond, Jasper County | May 10, 1987 |
| Sunfish, Green 2 lbs, 1 oz. | Farm Pond, De Witt County | Jun 28, 1981 |
| Sunfish, Hybrid 2 lbs, 9.4 oz | Farm Pond, Henry County | Sep 20, 2005 |
| Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 1 lb, 1.9 oz | Hennepin Hopper, Putnam County | Jun 19, 2020 |
| Sunfish, Redear 3 lbs, 1.1 oz | Beaver Lake, Grundy County | May 19, 2018 |
| Trout, Brook 7 lbs, 5 oz | Lake Michigan, Lake County | Nov 3, 1998 |
| Trout, Brown 36 lbs, 11.5 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | Jun 22, 1997 |
| Trout, Lake 39 lbs, 2.6 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | May 31, 2021 |
| Trout, Rainbow 31 lbs, 6.72 oz | Lake Michigan, Lake County | Jul 10, 1993 |
| Trout, Tiger 8 lbs, 12.5 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | Jun 26, 1977 |
| Walleye 15 lbs, 1 oz | Pecatonica River, Winnebago County | Mar 11, 2012 |
| Warmouth 1 lb, 13 oz | Farm Pond, Cumberland County | May 22, 1971 |
| Whitefish, Lake 8 lbs, 4 oz | Lake Michigan, Cook County | Jun 29, 2018 |
Setting an Illinois Fishing Record
If you think you may have just beaten one of the records listed above (or want to know what to do ahead of time), be sure to read the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Rules and Regulations for State Record Award.
That page also has a link to the application you’ll need to claim that spot in Illinois fishing history.