Common Carp in Illinois
Where common carp swim in Illinois, and what may be kept.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 51 lbs 0 ozrecord
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Sizing up Illinois common carp
IDNR prints no statewide row of its own for common carp in the 2026 digest. Check the site-specific entry for the water you fish, since those can still bind it.
In 1994, Lake Hillcrest produced the hook and line record of 51 lbs 0 oz. 31 pages across Illinois carry it, Crab Orchard Lake, Lake Decatur and Big Lake (RLFWA) among them.
Heaviest common carp on the Illinois list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 51 lbs 0 oz | Lake Hillcrest | Madison County | May 1, 1994 |
| bow and arrow | 38 lbs 2 oz | Crab Orchard Lake | Williamson County | April 5, 2013 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR outlook grades for common carp
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Pickerel Lake | Excellent | DuPage County |
| Cloverdale Pond | Excellent | DuPage County |
| Foxcroft Lake | Excellent | Kane County |
| Turnstone Lake | Excellent | Kane County |
| Big Lake (RLFWA) | Good | Fulton County |
| Lake Mattoon | Good | Shelby County |
| Paris East Lake | Good | Edgar County |
| Lake Paradise | Good | Coles County |
| Lake Milliken | Good | Will County |
| Spring Lake (FVPD) | Good | DuPage County |
| Mud Lake | Good | DuPage County |
| Jericho Lake | Good | Kane County |
| Waubonsee Lake | Good | DuPage County |
| Poss Lake | Good | DuPage County |
| Cheshire Lake | Good | DuPage County |
| Golden Oaks Pond (FVPD) | Good | Kane County |
| Muskrat Pond | Good | DuPage County |
| Lake Patterson | Fair | Kane County |
| Sand Pond (IBSP) | Fair | Lake County |
| Willow Lake | Poor | Kane County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Prairie State pages naming common carp
Impounded Illinois water holding common carp
- Crab Orchard Lake6,965 acres
- Lake Decatur2,905 acres
- Big Lake (RLFWA)Fulton County
- Lake Mattoon988 acres
- Charleston Side Channel Lake317 acres
- Pana LakeShelby County
- Paris East Lake163 acres
- Lake Paradise138 acres
- Carbondale City Reservoir135 acres
- Paris West Lake75 acres
- Lake Patterson48 acres
- Levings Lake26 acres
- Lake Milliken25 acres
- Spring Lake (FVPD)24 acres
- Mud Lake22 acres
- Jericho Lake21 acres
- Sand Pond (IBSP)Lake County
- Pickerel LakeDuPage County
- Waubonsee Lake16 acres
- Valley LakeLake County
- Cloverdale Pond12 acres
- South Spring Lake (FVPD)12 acres
- Poss Lake9 acres
- Foxcroft Lake8 acres
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Illinois fish close to common carp
- Bighead Carpno statewide row
- Grass Carpno statewide row
- Silver Carpno statewide row
Camera views of the water by Common Carp
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Village of Oak Lawn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Adam Moss, CC BY-SA 2.0
Illinois anglers ask about common carp
How many common carp 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 common carp record?
51 lbs 0 oz, landed at Lake Hillcrest in 1994. The list names no angler.
Where do common carp live in Illinois?
Try Crab Orchard Lake, Lake Decatur and Big Lake (RLFWA), out of 31.
Are there site-specific rules for common carp?
It has no named local entry; each water's all-fish rules still hold.
Do Illinois hatcheries raise common carp?
The IDNR stocking table for 2021 to 2026 has no row for it.
Is one IDNR license enough for common carp?
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 common carp?
The list has a hook and line side and a bow and arrow side. It has 2 record rows.
Where does IDNR rate common carp best?
Pickerel Lake shows excellent; 30 lakes carry a grade.
Go after Illinois common carp
Pick one of those Illinois waters and its page lays out the launches.