Burbot in Illinois
Digest rows, record weight and lakes holding Illinois burbot.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 11 lbs 12.5 ozrecord
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Illinois burbot, the short version
The Illinois statewide table in the digest leaves burbot unnamed. Local entries in the digest for a lake or river still count.
The Illinois hook and line record stands at 11 lbs 12.5 oz, from Lake Michigan in 2020.
The Illinois record burbot
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 11 lbs 12.5 oz | Lake Michigan | Cook County | December 7, 2020 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Prairie lakes and river bottoms near Burbot, photographed
Photo: uptowner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: D.L, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: bradhoc, CC BY 2.0
Land of Lincoln questions on burbot
Which digest row limits burbot?
The statewide table skips it, so see the site-specific rules where you fish.
When was the Illinois burbot record set?
It weighed 11 lbs 12.5 oz; Lake Michigan, 2020. IDNR leaves the angler unnamed.
What Illinois lake should I try for burbot?
No Illinois lake or river page on this site names it yet.
Which Illinois waters change the burbot rule?
None of the site-specific entries mention it by name; all-fish gear rules still apply.
Does IDNR stock burbot?
No stocking row names it from 2021 to 2026.
What paperwork does IDNR require for burbot?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Can a bowfished burbot set an Illinois record?
One division for hook and line, one for bow and arrow. This fish holds 1 record row.
Do IDNR surveys rate burbot anywhere?
No outlook grade for it appears on the lake pages.
Set out for Illinois burbot
Every lake linked above lists its piers and docks.