Striped Bass in Illinois
Where striped bass swim in Illinois, and what may be kept.
- no limit under 17 limit
- 31 lbs 7 ozrecord
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Sizing up Illinois striped bass
The statewide digest line that governs striped bass is titled "Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids". First words of the row: "There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations." A capped row like that is filled by its fish combined.
In 1994, Sangchris Lake produced the hook and line record of 31 lbs 7 oz. 3 pages across Illinois carry it, Lake Shelbyville, Sangchris Lake and Cedar Lake (Jackson) among them. The digest changes its rule on 28 waters, Baldwin Lake and Braidwood Lake among them. IDNR hatcheries put 12,322 into 1 water, per the stocking table.
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| Row as printed | Daily | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids | no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer | no statewide size limit printed |
There are no daily harvest limits or minimum size limits for Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, which are less than 17" in total length, except as specified under Site Specific Regulations. For these fish 17" in total length or longer, the daily limit is 3 fish, either singly or in the aggregate, except in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri where there is a 30 fish daily harvest limit for all Striped, White, Yellow, or hybrid Striped Bass. In the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, there is a 25 fish daily harvest limit on Striped Bass, White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their hybrids, either singly or in the aggregate.
IDNR 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR) page 10, read November 4, 2026.
Where a digest entry changes the striped bass rule
| Water as printed | County | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Lake | Randolph | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Braidwood Lake | Will | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Cedar Lake & Little Cedar Lake | Jackson | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Charleston Side Channel Lake | Coles | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Clinton Lake | DeWitt | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Forbes Lake | Marion | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Glenn Shoals Lake | Montgomery | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Governor Bond Lake | Bond | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Harrisburg New City Reservoir | Saline | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Heidecke Lake | Grundy | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Lake Bloomington | McLean | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Lake George | Rock Island | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Lake Jacksonville | Morgan | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Lake Shelbyville | Moultrie, Shelby | Striped Bass | 32 inch Minimum Length Limit; 2 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
| Lasalle Cooling Lake | LaSalle | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Mississippi River (Between IL & IA) | Striped, White, Yellow, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit; Statewide regulation limiting daily harvest to 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches is not in effect on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa | |
| Mississippi River (Between IL & MO) | Striped, White, Yellow, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 30 Fish Daily Harvest Limit; Statewide regulation limiting daily harvest to 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches is not in effect on the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri | |
| Ohio River (Between IL & KY) | Striped, White, Yellow, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 30 Fish Daily Harvest Limit, singly or in the aggregate, with no more than 4 Fish greater than or equal to 15 inches | |
| Otter Lake | Macoupin | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches |
| Pittsfield Lake | Pike | Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass | 17 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit |
Site-specific regulations as printed in the 2026 Illinois Fishing Information digest (IDNR), read November 4, 2026.
Heaviest striped bass on the Illinois list
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 31 lbs 7 oz | Sangchris Lake | Christian County | May 23, 1994 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
striped bass released into Illinois water
| Year | Water as listed | Number | Size class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Cedar Lake – Jackson | 2,799 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2025 | Cedar Lake – Jackson | 2,036 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2024 | Cedar Lake – Jackson | 2,100 | Advanced Fingerling (4 – 7") |
| 2023 | Cedar Lake – Jackson | 4,750 | Fingerling (1 – 3") |
| 2022 | Cedar Lake – Jackson | 637 | 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.
IDNR outlook grades for striped bass
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Shelbyville | Poor | Moultrie County |
| Cedar Lake (Jackson) | Average | Jackson County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Prairie State pages naming striped bass
Impounded Illinois water holding striped bass
- Lake Shelbyville11,100 acres
- Sangchris Lake2,321 acres
- Cedar Lake (Jackson)1,750 acres
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Illinois fish close to striped bass
- Hybrid Striped Bassno limit under 17
- White Bassno limit under 17
- Yellow Bassno limit under 17
- Largemouth Bass6 a day
- Rock Bassno daily cap
- Smallmouth Bass6 a day
- Spotted Bass6 a day
Camera views of the water by Striped Bass
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Denny Armstrong, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tripp, CC BY 2.0
Photo: nearly almost, CC BY-SA 4.0
Illinois anglers ask about striped bass
How many striped bass may I keep in Illinois?
IDNR prints no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer, with no statewide size limit printed. Site-specific entries can be stricter on a given water.
How heavy is the Illinois striped bass record?
31 lbs 7 oz, landed at Sangchris Lake in 1994. The list names no angler.
Where do striped bass live in Illinois?
Try Lake Shelbyville, Sangchris Lake and Cedar Lake (Jackson), out of 3.
Are there site-specific rules for striped bass?
Baldwin Lake and others, 28 waters in all.
Do Illinois hatcheries raise striped bass?
Yes: 12,322 across 1 water in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Is one IDNR license enough for striped bass?
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 striped bass?
The list has a hook and line side and a bow and arrow side. It has 1 record row.
Where does IDNR rate striped bass best?
Lake Shelbyville shows poor; 2 lakes carry a grade.
Go after Illinois striped bass
Pick one of those Illinois waters and its page lays out the launches.