Brook Trout in Illinois
Daily limit, record and water pages for Illinois brook trout.
- 5 a daylimit
- 7 lbs 5 ozrecord
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brook trout in the Prairie State
IDNR lists brook trout under the digest row "Trout and Salmon". As printed, it starts: "Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate." Any cap on that row covers its fish in the aggregate.
The heaviest on the IDNR hook and line list weighed 7 lbs 5 oz: Lake Michigan, 1998.
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| Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Trout and Salmon | 5 (combined) | no statewide size limit printed |
Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate.
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 10, read November 4, 2026.
Lake Michigan wording for brook trout
| Species as printed | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Trout and Salmon | 10 inch Minimum Length Limit; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate, except for Lake Trout |
Lake Michigan rules and stamps
IDNR Lake Michigan fishing page and Lake Michigan entry of the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
brook trout in the IDNR record book
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 7 lbs 5 oz | Lake Michigan | Lake County | November 3, 1998 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Species the digest groups with brook trout
- Atlantic Salmon5 a day
- Brown Trout5 a day
- Chinook Salmon5 a day
- Coho Salmon5 a day
- Lake Trout5 a day
- Pink Salmon5 a day
- Rainbow Trout5 a day
- Steelhead5 a day
- Tiger Trout5 a day
Lakes and river bends close to Brook Trout, in pictures
Photo: uptowner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: D.L, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: bradhoc, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
brook trout in Illinois: replies for anglers
What daily take of brook trout does Illinois permit?
Daily: 5 combined a day. Length: no statewide size limit printed. Some waters print their own, stricter wording.
What is the Illinois record brook trout?
IDNR lists 7 lbs 5 oz, Lake Michigan, 1998. IDNR prints no angler name.
Which Illinois lakes list brook trout?
None of the Illinois lake or stream pages carry it at present.
Where does the brook trout rule change in Illinois?
Site-specific entries do not name it; posted all-fish rules on a water still apply.
How many brook trout did IDNR stock?
No 2021 to 2026 stocking row lists it.
Which IDNR license lets me keep brook trout?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026). The digest also requires the $6.50 Salmon Stamp to take salmon or trout in Lake Michigan. Taking trout from other Illinois waters needs the $6.50 Inland Trout Stamp.
Which IDNR list would a record brook trout go on?
IDNR keeps a hook and line division and a bow and arrow division. IDNR has 1 record row under this fish.
Which Illinois lakes does IDNR rate highly for brook trout?
None of the IDNR lake outlooks grade it.
Pick a Prairie State lake for brook trout
The waters above each show access and limits.