Pink Salmon in Illinois
Where pink salmon swim in Illinois, and what may be kept.
- 5 a daylimit
- 4 lbs 14.4 ozrecord
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not an Illinois water: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sizing up Illinois pink salmon
The statewide digest line that governs pink salmon is titled "Trout and Salmon". First words of the row: "Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate." A capped row like that is filled by its fish combined.
In 2022, Lake Michigan produced the hook and line record of 4 lbs 14.4 oz.
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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.
Illinois Lake Michigan rules for pink salmon
| Species as printed | Rule as printed |
|---|---|
| Trout and Salmon | 10 inch Minimum Length Limit; 5 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate, except for Lake Trout |
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.
Heaviest pink salmon on the Illinois list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 4 lbs 14.4 oz | Lake Michigan | Lake County | August 4, 2022 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Illinois fish close to pink salmon
- Atlantic Salmon5 a day
- Brook Trout5 a day
- Brown Trout5 a day
- Chinook Salmon5 a day
- Coho Salmon5 a day
- Lake Trout5 a day
- Rainbow Trout5 a day
- Steelhead5 a day
- Tiger Trout5 a day
Camera views of the water by Pink Salmon
Photo: Charles Fulton, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Illinois anglers ask about pink salmon
How many pink salmon may I keep in Illinois?
IDNR prints 5 combined a day, with no statewide size limit printed. Site-specific entries can be stricter on a given water.
How heavy is the Illinois pink salmon record?
4 lbs 14.4 oz, landed at Lake Michigan in 2022. The list names no angler.
Where do pink salmon live in Illinois?
This site ties it to no Illinois water page yet.
Are there site-specific rules for pink salmon?
It has no named local entry; each water's all-fish rules still hold.
Do Illinois hatcheries raise pink salmon?
The IDNR stocking table for 2021 to 2026 has no row for it.
Is one IDNR license enough for pink salmon?
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.
Which record divisions does IDNR keep for pink salmon?
The list has a hook and line side and a bow and arrow side. It has 1 record row.
Where does IDNR rate pink salmon best?
IDNR outlook tables here do not rate it.
Go after Illinois pink salmon
Pick one of those Illinois waters and its page lays out the launches.