Lake Trout in Illinois
IDNR limits, the state record and Illinois waters for lake trout.
- 5 a daylimit
- 39 lbs 2.6 ozrecord
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Illinois lake trout in brief
In the 2026 IDNR digest, lake trout sit on the statewide line headed "Trout and Salmon". The row begins: "Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate." Where the row caps the catch, the fish on it are counted together.
At 39 lbs 2.6 oz, the hook and line record came from Lake Michigan (2021). Its rule shifts on 1 water, for instance Lake Michigan (Illinois Portion). Across 1 water, IDNR listed 242,822 stocked.
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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 trout in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan
| Species as printed | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Lake Trout | 2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
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.
lake trout, water by water
| Water as printed | County | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Michigan (Illinois Portion) | Lake, Cook | Lake Trout | 2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois state-record lake trout
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 39 lbs 2.6 oz | Lake Michigan | Cook County | May 21, 2021 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
IDNR hatchery lake trout by water
| Year | Water as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lake Michigan | 121,259 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2022 | Lake Michigan | 121,563 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
Relatives of lake trout on the IDNR list
- Atlantic Salmon5 a day
- Brook Trout5 a day
- Brown Trout5 a day
- Chinook Salmon5 a day
- Coho Salmon5 a day
- Pink Salmon5 a day
- Rainbow Trout5 a day
- Steelhead5 a day
- Tiger Trout5 a day
How the shoreline by Lake Trout looks
Photo: D.L, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: edward stojakovic, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Robert Lampros, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Short Illinois answers on lake trout
How many lake trout can go on an Illinois stringer?
The digest row reads 5 combined a day; size: no statewide size limit printed. Individual waters can carry a tighter entry.
Which Illinois lake or river produced the top lake trout?
Lake Michigan produced it in 2021: 39 lbs 2.6 oz. The angler is not printed.
Which Illinois waters hold lake trout?
IDNR lists name no water for it that has a page here yet.
Is the lake trout rule the same on every Illinois water?
The digest lists 1 water; Lake Michigan (Illinois Portion) is one.
Which Illinois waters got lake trout from IDNR?
In 2022 and 2023, 242,822 across 1 water.
Must a visitor buy a license for Illinois lake 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.
Does the Illinois lake trout record list count bow fish?
Two: hook and line, and bow and arrow. For it, IDNR shows 1 record row.
Where do IDNR biologists rate lake trout?
The IDNR outlooks on these lake pages give it no grade.
Plan an Illinois trip for lake trout
Open a lake or river above for launches and local rules.