How long has the Iowa brown trout record stood?

31 years. The record was set in 1995 and remains the standing Iowa mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record brown trout?

Of the 12 states in our index with a brown trout record, Wisconsin holds the heaviest at 41 lb 8 oz (2010). Iowa ranks 11 of 12 at 15 lb 6 oz.

Iowa State Record Brown Trout: 15 lb 6 oz

Q: What is the Iowa state record brown trout?

The Iowa state record brown trout weighed 15 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1995 from North Prairie Lake by Georld Lewis, and is recognized by the Iowa DNR.

The Iowa state record brown trout weighed 15 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1995 from North Prairie Lake by Georld Lewis, and the Iowa DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 31 years later.

Weight

15 lb 6 oz

Length

Not recorded

Year set

1995

31 years standing

Water

North Prairie Lake

Where the record came from

The record came from North Prairie Lake. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Iowa lakes we do grade instead.

Brown Trout records by state

Iowa ranks 11 of 12 among the states in our index for record brown trout. Wisconsin holds the heaviest at 41 lb 8 oz, set in 2010.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Wisconsin	41 lb 8 oz	2010	Lake Michigan
2	Michigan	41 lb 7 oz	2009	Manistee River
3	Missouri	40 lb 6 oz	2019	Lake Taneycomo
4	Illinois	36 lb 11 oz	1996	Lake Michigan
5	New York	33 lb 2 oz	1997	Lake Ontario
6	North Dakota	31 lb 11 oz	2005	Missouri River
7	Indiana	29 lb 5 oz	2006	Lake Michigan
8	South Dakota	24 lb 8 oz	1990	Canyon Lake
9	Pennsylvania	20 lb 9 oz	2020	Lake Erie
10	Minnesota	16 lb 12 oz	1989	Lake Superior
11	Iowa (this page)	15 lb 6 oz	1995	North Prairie Lake
12	Ohio	14 lb 11 oz	2012	Lake Erie

Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.

How it ranks inside Iowa

7 of Iowa's 19 standing records are heavier than the 15 lb 6 oz brown trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 9 Iowa records have stood longer, the brown trout mark dating to 1995.

Other Iowa records

Walleye 14 lb 8 oz Sauger 6 lb 8 oz Northern Pike 25 lb 5 oz Muskellunge 50 lb 6 oz Largemouth Bass 10 lb 12 oz Smallmouth Bass 7 lb 12 oz White Bass 5 lb 2 oz Channel Catfish 38 lb 2 oz Flathead Catfish 81 lb Blue Catfish 105 lb Black Crappie 3 lb 15 oz White Crappie 4 lb 9 oz Bluegill 3 lb 2 oz Yellow Perch 2 lb 13 oz Rainbow Trout 19 lb 8 oz Brook Trout 7 lb Saugeye 12 lb 4 oz Hybrid Striped Bass 19 lb 10 oz

All 19 Iowa state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Iowa DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Iowa DNR.