Rainbow Trout in Illinois
Digest rows, record weight and lakes holding Illinois rainbow trout.
- 5 a daylimit
- 31 lbs 6.72 ozrecord
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Illinois rainbow trout, the short version
Illinois puts rainbow trout on the row the digest prints as "Trout and Salmon". Quoting the first sentence: "Daily harvest limit is 5 trout or salmon, either singly or in the aggregate." Fish grouped on that row count toward one shared figure where a cap exists.
The Illinois hook and line record stands at 31 lbs 6.72 oz, from Lake Michigan in 1993. It appears on 58 Illinois lake and river pages; Hennepin Canal, Devils Kitchen Lake and Busse Lake (FPDCC) come first. The table records 861,114 released into 75 waters.
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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.
rainbow trout off Chicago and Waukegan
| 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.
The Illinois record rainbow trout
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 31 lbs 6.72 oz | Lake Michigan | Lake County | July 10, 1993 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Hatchery rainbow trout, water by water
| Year | Water as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lake Michigan | 55,668 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2026 | Silver Lake | 9,833 | Adult |
| 2026 | Devils Kitchen Lake | 8,332 | Adult |
| 2026 | Baumann Park Lake | 5,239 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Busse Lake – FPDCC | 4,053 | Adult |
| 2026 | Argyle Lake | 4,005 | Adult |
| 2026 | Big Lake (Loon Lake) | 3,800 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Frank Holten Grand Marais Lake | 3,740 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Clear Lake – KSRA | 3,560 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Gridley Lake – JEPCFWA | 3,208 | Adult |
| 2026 | Sand Pond – IBSP | 3,106 | Adult |
| 2026 | Lake Strini | 2,856 | Adult |
| 2026 | Weldon Springs | 2,800 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
| 2026 | Siloam Springs Lake | 2,728 | NonVulnerable (8 – 10") |
IDNR fish stocking table on ifishillinois.org (year, water, species, size class and number as listed; no stocking dates published), read November 4, 2026.
rainbow trout ratings from IDNR surveys
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin Canal | Excellent | Bureau County |
| Siloam Springs Lake | Excellent | Adams County |
| Lake Mendota | Excellent | LaSalle County |
| Moorman Park Lake | Excellent | Adams County |
| Argyle Lake | Good | McDonough County |
| Patriot's Park Lake (aka Greenville Old City Lake) | Good | Bond County |
| Derby Lake (World Shooting Complex) | Good | Randolph County |
| King Park Pond | Good | Pike County |
| Devils Kitchen Lake | Very Good | Williamson County |
| Ferne Clyffe Lake | Very Good | Johnson County |
| Horton Lake | Very Good | Hancock County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Illinois spots worth a trip for rainbow trout
Still water for rainbow trout
- Hennepin Canal925 acres
- Devils Kitchen Lake810 acres
- Busse Lake (FPDCC)Cook County
- Silver Lake (Highland)550 acres
- Wolf Lake380 acres
- Frank Holten Grand Marais Lake97 acres
- Argyle LakeMcDonough County
- Randolph County Lake65 acres
- Siloam Springs Lake58 acres
- Beaver Dam Lake57 acres
- Weldon Springs29 acres
- Baumann Park Lake26 acres
- Citizen's Lake26 acres
- Lake of the Woods- CCFPDChampaign County
- Gridley Lake (JEPCFWA)Cass County
- Lake Milliken25 acres
- Patriot's Park Lake (aka Greenville Old City Lake)25 acres
- Morgan Lake24 acres
- Derby Lake (World Shooting Complex)Randolph County
- Hatchery Park Ponds20 acres
- Lake Atwood20 acres
- Four Lakes19 acres
- Sag Quarry East (FPDCC)Cook County
- Highland Old City Lake18 acres
Streams listing rainbow trout
- Apple RiverCarroll County
- Pine CreekOgle County
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Fish sharing a row with Illinois rainbow trout
- Atlantic Salmon5 a day
- Brook Trout5 a day
- Brown Trout5 a day
- Chinook Salmon5 a day
- Coho Salmon5 a day
- Lake Trout5 a day
- Pink Salmon5 a day
- Steelhead5 a day
- Tiger Trout5 a day
Prairie lakes and river bottoms near Rainbow Trout, photographed
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Alaina McDavid, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: chumlee10, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Land of Lincoln questions on rainbow trout
Which digest row limits rainbow trout?
It allows 5 combined a day; no statewide size limit printed. Local digest entries override it where printed.
When was the Illinois rainbow trout record set?
It weighed 31 lbs 6.72 oz; Lake Michigan, 1993. IDNR leaves the angler unnamed.
What Illinois lake should I try for rainbow trout?
Hennepin Canal, Devils Kitchen Lake and Busse Lake (FPDCC) head a list of 58 Illinois pages.
Which Illinois waters change the rainbow trout rule?
None of the site-specific entries mention it by name; all-fish gear rules still apply.
Does IDNR stock rainbow trout?
IDNR listed 861,114 in 75 waters, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
What paperwork does IDNR require for rainbow 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.
Can a bowfished rainbow trout 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 rainbow trout anywhere?
IDNR rates it on 11 lakes; Hennepin Canal gets excellent.
Set out for Illinois rainbow trout
Every lake linked above lists its piers and docks.