Iowa State Record Fish: All 19 Official Records (2026)
All 19 verified Iowa record fish from the Iowa DNR. The heaviest is the Blue Catfish at 105 lb, caught in 2025 on Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line). The oldest standing record is the Flathead Catfish from 1958.
Iowa state fishing records — the largest individual fish of each species ever caught and verified in the state — are maintained by Iowa DNR. A record-eligible catch has to be weighed on a certified scale, documented, and verified before it stands.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in Iowa water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside the LakeQuality grade rubric is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the cleanest, highest-grade waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the grade distribution.
Record Fish by Species
Iowa State Record Walleye
The Iowa state record walleye weighed 14 lb 8 oz and measured 30.5 inches, caught in 1986 from Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) in Polk County by Gloria Eoriatti.
Iowa State Record Muskellunge
The Iowa state record muskellunge weighed 50 lb 6 oz, caught in 2000 from Spirit Lake by Kevin Cardwell.
Iowa State Record Northern Pike
The Iowa state record northern pike weighed 25 lb 5 oz, caught in 1977 from West Okoboji Lake by Allen Forsberg. West Okoboji Lake holds a Grade A water-quality score in our index.
Iowa State Record Largemouth Bass
The Iowa state record largemouth bass weighed 10 lb 12 oz, caught in 1984 from Lake Fisher by Patricia Zaerr. Lake Fisher holds a Grade F water-quality score in our index.
Iowa State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Iowa state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 12 oz, caught in 1980 from West Okoboji Lake by Rick Gray. West Okoboji Lake holds a Grade A water-quality score in our index.
Iowa State Record Black Crappie
The Iowa state record black crappie weighed 3 lb 15 oz, caught in 2026 from Lake of Three Fires by Micaiah Thompson.
All Iowa Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 14 lb 8 oz | 30.5 in | 1986 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) | Polk | Gloria Eoriatti |
| Sauger | 6 lb 8 oz | — | 1976 | Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) | — | Mrs. W. Buser |
| Northern Pike | 25 lb 5 oz | — | 1977 | West Okoboji Lake | — | Allen Forsberg |
| Muskellunge | 50 lb 6 oz | — | 2000 | Spirit Lake | — | Kevin Cardwell |
| Largemouth Bass | 10 lb 12 oz | — | 1984 | Lake Fisher | — | Patricia Zaerr |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 lb 12 oz | — | 1980 | West Okoboji Lake | — | Rick Gray |
| White Bass | 5 lb 2 oz | — | 2019 | East Okoboji Lake | — | Justin Sturtz |
| Channel Catfish | 38 lb 2 oz | — | 2005 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) | — | Dustin Curtis |
| Flathead Catfish | 81 lb | — | 1958 | Ellis Lake | — | Joe Blaze |
| Blue Catfish | 105 lb | — | 2025 | Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) | — | George Thompson |
| Black Crappie | 3 lb 15 oz | — | 2026 | Lake of Three Fires | — | Micaiah Thompson |
| White Crappie | 4 lb 9 oz | — | 1981 | Green Castle Lake | — | Ted Trowbridge |
| Bluegill | 3 lb 2 oz | — | 1986 | Farm pond | — | Phil Algreen |
| Yellow Perch | 2 lb 13 oz | — | 2019 | Private pond | — | Royce Krummen |
| Brown Trout | 15 lb 6 oz | — | 1995 | North Prairie Lake | — | Georld Lewis |
| Rainbow Trout | 19 lb 8 oz | — | 1984 | French Creek | — | Jack Renner |
| Brook Trout | 7 lb | — | 1996 | Fountain Springs | — | Doug Korvarik |
| Saugeye | 12 lb 4 oz | — | 2000 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) | — | Don Ostergaard |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 19 lb 10 oz | — | 2005 | Saylorville Reservoir | — | Youa Lovan |
Record Waters We Grade
6 of Iowa's record fish came from lakes in our water-quality index. See how each one grades today:
Records by Decade
When each standing Iowa record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Iowa Records Are Verified
Iowa DNR requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Iowa DNR records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking and Iowa lake directory.