Freshwater Drum in Illinois
Illinois freshwater drum: limit, record, stocking and waters.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 38 lbs 4 ozrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not an Illinois water: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
freshwater drum across Illinois water
No line of the 2026 statewide digest table mentions freshwater drum. Site-specific entries for a given water can still set rules that cover it.
IDNR lists 38 lbs 4 oz as the hook and line mark, taken at Clinton Lake in 2018. Begin with Clinton Lake, Lake Decatur and Sangchris Lake, among 6 Illinois pages that list it.
Record freshwater drum on the IDNR list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 38 lbs 4 oz | Clinton Lake | DeWitt County | May 24, 2018 |
| bow and arrow | 20 lbs 4 oz | Sangchris Lake | Christian County | February 20, 2023 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Where the IDNR outlook names freshwater drum
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | Fair | Coles County |
| Lake Paradise | Fair | Coles County |
| Lake Decatur | Very Good | Macon County |
| Lake Mattoon | Average | Shelby County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Illinois water that lists freshwater drum
Impoundments with freshwater drum
- Clinton Lake4,895 acres
- Lake Decatur2,905 acres
- Sangchris Lake2,321 acres
- Lake Mattoon988 acres
- Charleston Side Channel Lake317 acres
- Lake Paradise138 acres
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Timber, cornfield and water around Freshwater Drum through a lens
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
Photo: D.L, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, CC BY-SA 2.0
freshwater drum questions from cornfield ponds to the big river
What does IDNR allow per day for freshwater drum?
None of the 13 rows names it; site-specific entries still bind.
Does IDNR list a record freshwater drum?
38 lbs 4 oz from Clinton Lake, 2018. Angler names are not printed.
Which Prairie State lake holds freshwater drum?
Start at Clinton Lake, Lake Decatur and Sangchris Lake; 6 pages carry it.
Do any Illinois waters set their own freshwater drum rule?
The site-specific list leaves it alone, apart from all-fish gear entries.
Were freshwater drum stocked in Illinois recently?
The IDNR stocking table leaves it out.
How much is an Illinois license to fish for freshwater drum?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Is there a bow record for freshwater drum in Illinois?
IDNR runs two lists: hook and line and bow and arrow. Its entries: 2 record rows.
What does the IDNR outlook say about freshwater drum?
4 lake pages carry an IDNR grade for it; Charleston Side Channel Lake rates fair.
Line up a day on Illinois freshwater drum
Each water above lists its ramps and site-specific rules on its own page.