Illinois DNR certifies new state record walleye

Fish caught on the Pecatonica River near S. Beloit Illinois

ROCKFORD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Fisheries has officially certified the catch of a new state-record walleye – the second time the state record has been established this year.

On March 11, 52-year-old James Zimmerman of Beloit, Wisconsin caught a 15.08-pound walleye on the Pecatonica River in Winnebago County. The fish was measured at 31 and 1/2 inches with a girth of 20 and 3/8 inches. IDNR Division of Fisheries Regional Administrator Dan Sallee certified the new record walleye on March 12. IDNR Conservation Police Officer Dennis Frichtl assisted in the weigh-in and certification.

Zimmerman caught the fish on a 1/8 ounce Northland Fire-Ball jig.

Fifteen-year-old Nick Tassoni of Rockford caught a 14-pound, 12-ounce walleye on Jan. 7, 2012 on the Pecatonica River between Rockton and Harrison in Winnebago County that eclipsed the former state record 14-pound walleye caught on the Kankakee River in 1961.

For more information on catching fish, state-record fish and fishing opportunities in Illinois, go to the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov/fishing or check out www.ifishillinois.org.