Tiger Trout in Illinois
Digest rows, record weight and lakes holding Illinois tiger trout.
- 5 a daylimit
- 8 lbs 12.5 ozrecord
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Illinois tiger trout, the short version
Illinois puts tiger 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 8 lbs 12.5 oz, from Lake Michigan in 1977.
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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.
tiger 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 tiger trout
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 8 lbs 12.5 oz | Lake Michigan | Cook County | June 26, 1977 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
Fish sharing a row with Illinois tiger 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
- Rainbow Trout5 a day
- Steelhead5 a day
Prairie lakes and river bottoms near Tiger Trout, photographed
Photo: Dan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: uptowner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Denny Armstrong, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
Land of Lincoln questions on tiger trout
Which digest row limits tiger trout?
It allows 5 combined a day; no statewide size limit printed. Local digest entries override it where printed.
When was the Illinois tiger trout record set?
It weighed 8 lbs 12.5 oz; Lake Michigan, 1977. IDNR leaves the angler unnamed.
What Illinois lake should I try for tiger trout?
No Illinois lake or river page on this site names it yet.
Which Illinois waters change the tiger trout rule?
None of the site-specific entries mention it by name; all-fish gear rules still apply.
Does IDNR stock tiger trout?
No stocking row names it from 2021 to 2026.
What paperwork does IDNR require for tiger 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 tiger 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 tiger trout anywhere?
No outlook grade for it appears on the lake pages.
Set out for Illinois tiger trout
Every lake linked above lists its piers and docks.