Brown Bullhead in Illinois
Where brown bullhead swim in Illinois, and what may be kept.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 3 lbs 4.8 ozrecord
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Sizing up Illinois brown bullhead
IDNR prints no statewide row of its own for brown bullhead in the 2026 digest. Check the site-specific entry for the water you fish, since those can still bind it.
In 2017, Thompson Lake – Emiquon produced the hook and line record of 3 lbs 4.8 oz. 2 pages across Illinois carry it, Thompson Lake (Emiquon) and Hennepin-Hopper Lakes among them.
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| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 3 lbs 4.8 oz | Thompson Lake – Emiquon | Fulton County | May 8, 2017 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR outlook grades for brown bullhead
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin-Hopper Lakes | Very Good | Putnam County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Prairie State pages naming brown bullhead
Impounded Illinois water holding brown bullhead
- Thompson Lake (Emiquon)4,000 acres
- Hennepin-Hopper LakesPutnam County
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Illinois fish close to brown bullhead
- Black Bullheadno statewide row
- Yellow Bullheadno statewide row
Camera views of the water by Brown Bullhead
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: edward stojakovic, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Charles Fulton, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Illinois anglers ask about brown bullhead
How many brown bullhead may I keep in Illinois?
IDNR sets no statewide line for it; look up the lake in the site-specific list.
How heavy is the Illinois brown bullhead record?
3 lbs 4.8 oz, landed at Thompson Lake – Emiquon in 2017. The list names no angler.
Where do brown bullhead live in Illinois?
Try Thompson Lake (Emiquon) and Hennepin-Hopper Lakes, out of 2.
Are there site-specific rules for brown bullhead?
It has no named local entry; each water's all-fish rules still hold.
Do Illinois hatcheries raise brown bullhead?
The IDNR stocking table for 2021 to 2026 has no row for it.
Is one IDNR license enough for brown bullhead?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which record divisions does IDNR keep for brown bullhead?
The list has a hook and line side and a bow and arrow side. It has 1 record row.
Where does IDNR rate brown bullhead best?
Hennepin-Hopper Lakes shows very good; 1 lake carry a grade.
Go after Illinois brown bullhead
Pick one of those Illinois waters and its page lays out the launches.