Yellow Bullhead in Illinois
Digest rows, record weight and lakes holding Illinois yellow bullhead.
- no statewide rowlimit
- 5 lbs 4 ozrecord
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Illinois yellow bullhead, the short version
The Illinois statewide table in the digest leaves yellow bullhead unnamed. Local entries in the digest for a lake or river still count.
The Illinois hook and line record stands at 5 lbs 4 oz, from Fox River in 1955. It appears on 5 Illinois lake and river pages; Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia), Eagle Lake (Mazonia) and Clear Lake (Mazonia 10) come first.
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| Division | Weight | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 5 lbs 4 oz | Fox River | Kane County | February 2, 1955 |
IDNR Illinois state record fish list (keeper: Illinois Department of Natural Resources; no angler names printed), read November 4, 2026.
yellow bullhead ratings from IDNR surveys
| Lake | IDNR rating | County |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Lake (Mazonia 10) | Good | Grundy County |
| Goose Lake (Mazonia 6) | Good | Grundy County |
| Eagle Lake (Mazonia) | Fair | Kankakee County |
| Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia) | Very Good | Kankakee County |
IDNR fishing outlook ratings and survey notes as printed on the IFishIllinois page, read November 4, 2026.
Illinois spots worth a trip for yellow bullhead
Still water for yellow bullhead
- Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia)149 acres
- Eagle Lake (Mazonia)34 acres
- Clear Lake (Mazonia 10)29 acres
- Goose Lake (Mazonia 6)10 acres
Streams listing yellow bullhead
- Fox RiverKane 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 yellow bullhead
- Black Bullheadno statewide row
- Brown Bullheadno statewide row
Prairie lakes and river bottoms near Yellow Bullhead, photographed
Photo: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Adam Moss, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Village of Oak Lawn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Land of Lincoln questions on yellow bullhead
Which digest row limits yellow bullhead?
The statewide table skips it, so see the site-specific rules where you fish.
When was the Illinois yellow bullhead record set?
It weighed 5 lbs 4 oz; Fox River, 1955. IDNR leaves the angler unnamed.
What Illinois lake should I try for yellow bullhead?
Ponderosa Lake (Mazonia), Eagle Lake (Mazonia) and Clear Lake (Mazonia 10) head a list of 5 Illinois pages.
Which Illinois waters change the yellow bullhead rule?
None of the site-specific entries mention it by name; all-fish gear rules still apply.
Does IDNR stock yellow bullhead?
No stocking row names it from 2021 to 2026.
What paperwork does IDNR require for yellow bullhead?
Anglers 16 and older carry an Illinois fishing license ($15 a year for residents, $31.50 for nonresidents in 2026).
Can a bowfished yellow bullhead 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 yellow bullhead anywhere?
IDNR rates it on 4 lakes; Clear Lake (Mazonia 10) gets good.
Set out for Illinois yellow bullhead
Every lake linked above lists its piers and docks.