White Bass in Illinois
Daily limit, record and water pages for Illinois white bass.
- no limit under 17 limit
- 4 lbs 14 ozrecord
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white bass in the Prairie State
IDNR lists white bass under the digest row "Striped Bass (Ocean Rockfish), White Bass, Yellow Bass, and their Hybrids". As printed, it starts: "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." Any cap on that row covers its fish in the aggregate.
The heaviest on the IDNR hook and line list weighed 4 lbs 14 oz: Kaskaskia River, 1981. Of 18 Illinois pages listing it, the largest are Carlyle Lake, Rend Lake and Lake Shelbyville.
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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.
white bass in the IDNR record book
| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 4 lbs 14 oz | Kaskaskia River | Clinton County | October 7, 1981 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
How IDNR biologists grade white bass lake by lake
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Carlyle Lake | Excellent | Bond County |
| Lake Shelbyville | Excellent | Moultrie County |
| Crab Orchard Lake | Excellent | Williamson County |
| Rend Lake | Good | Franklin County |
| Lake Decatur | Good | Macon County |
| Heidecke Lake | Good | Grundy County |
| Newton Lake | Good | Jasper County |
| Otter Lake | Good | Macoupin County |
| Mallard Lake (Pyramid State Park) | Good | Perry County |
| Blue Wing Lake (Pyramid State Park) | Good | Perry County |
| Clinton Lake | Fair | DeWitt County |
| Lake Sara | Fair | Effingham County |
| Island Lake (Burning Star) | Fair | Jackson County |
| Wheel Lake (Banner Marsh) | Poor | Peoria County |
| Duck Island Main Lake (RLFWA) | Average | Fulton County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Where Illinois white bass show up
Illinois lakes listing white bass
- Carlyle Lake24,580 acres
- Rend Lake18,900 acres
- Lake Shelbyville11,100 acres
- Crab Orchard Lake6,965 acres
- Clinton Lake4,895 acres
- Lake Decatur2,905 acres
- Heidecke Lake1,955 acres
- Newton Lake1,750 acres
- Otter Lake765 acres
- Lake Sara614 acres
- Island Lake (Burning Star)216 acres
- Duck Island Main Lake (RLFWA)Fulton County
- Mallard Lake (Pyramid State Park)66 acres
- Blue Wing Lake (Pyramid State Park)46 acres
- Wheel Lake (Banner Marsh)Peoria County
Illinois rivers listing white bass
- Kaskaskia RiverDouglas County
- Illinois River, Alton PoolMorgan County
- Illinois River, LaGrange PoolPeoria County
IDNR IFishIllinois outlook ratings and species lists, the IDNR stocking table and IDNR record waters; largest waters first.
Species the digest groups with white bass
- Hybrid Striped Bassno limit under 17
- Striped 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
Lakes and river bends close to White Bass, in pictures
Photo: David Jakes, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Richie Diesterheft, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: David Jakes, CC BY 4.0
white bass in Illinois: replies for anglers
What daily take of white bass does Illinois permit?
Daily: no limit under 17 inches; 3 at 17 inches or longer. Length: no statewide size limit printed. Some waters print their own, stricter wording.
What is the Illinois record white bass?
IDNR lists 4 lbs 14 oz, Kaskaskia River, 1981. IDNR prints no angler name.
Which Illinois lakes list white bass?
18 Illinois pages, Carlyle Lake, Rend Lake and Lake Shelbyville first.
Where does the white bass rule change in Illinois?
Site-specific entries do not name it; posted all-fish rules on a water still apply.
How many white bass did IDNR stock?
No 2021 to 2026 stocking row lists it.
Which IDNR license lets me keep white bass?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Which IDNR list would a record white bass go on?
IDNR keeps a hook and line division and a bow and arrow division. IDNR has 1 record row under this fish.
Which Illinois lakes does IDNR rate highly for white bass?
Top of the list: Carlyle Lake, excellent, among 15 graded lakes.
Pick a Prairie State lake for white bass
The waters above each show access and limits.