Steve Pallo
Research Editor

Steve has been a fishery biologist for over 35 years and is currently chief of the Fisheries Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

He earned his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Northwest Missouri State University. He is a Certified Fisheries Scientist, is Past-President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and has been Chair of the Esocid Technical Committee of AFS. Steve worked on both Muskie Symposiums and is a past director of research for Muskies, Inc.  

When Steve first came to Illinois he was a consulting biologist and conducted fisheries assessments on a wide variety of waters (Lake Michigan, Mississippi, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio rivers). After five years of consulting, Steve accepted a new position with a major electric utility company, where he prepared Environmental Assessments for fishery resources on cooling lakes and major rivers of Illinois. 

For the past 15 years, Steve has been a fisheries manager with the Illinois DNR, serving as a district manager, regional administrator, Lakes Program manager, Management Programs section head, as most recently as chief of the Fisheries Division.

When he first came to Illinois, two renown Musky Hunter contributors (Larry Ramsell and Brad Latvaitis) introduced Steve to the “King of Freshwater Fishes” and he has been hooked ever since. He has fished muskies all over the Midwest, even taking his wife to Eagle Lake, Ontario, on their honeymoon. Steve’s biggest muskie is a beautiful 52-incher, from the Winnipeg River. 

 His family (Christi, Nick and Chris) have all caught 40-inch fish and summer vacations are spent in the north country musky hunting. Steve’s other passion is bowhunting trophy whitetails. He has four Pope & Young bucks and one Boone & Crockett to his credit.