Where was the Iowa record channel catfish caught?

Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs), Iowa.

How long has the Iowa channel catfish record stood?

21 years. The record was set in 2005 and remains the standing Iowa mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record channel catfish?

Of the 12 states in our index with a channel catfish record, Illinois holds the heaviest at 45 lb 4 oz (1987). Iowa ranks 5 of 12 at 38 lb 2 oz.

Iowa State Record Channel Catfish: 38 lb 2 oz

Q: What is the Iowa state record channel catfish?

The Iowa state record channel catfish weighed 38 lb 2 oz. It was caught in 2005 from Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) by Dustin Curtis, and is recognized by the Iowa DNR.

The Iowa state record channel catfish weighed 38 lb 2 oz. It was caught in 2005 from Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) by Dustin Curtis, and the Iowa DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 21 years later.

Weight

38 lb 2 oz

Length

Not recorded

Year set

2005

21 years standing

Water

Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)

Where the record came from

The record came from Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs). 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.

Channel Catfish records by state

Iowa ranks 5 of 12 among the states in our index for record channel catfish. Illinois holds the heaviest at 45 lb 4 oz, set in 1987.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Illinois	45 lb 4 oz	1987	Baldwin Lake
2	Wisconsin	44 lb	1962	Wisconsin River
3	North Dakota	42 lb 1 oz	2009	Moon Lake
4	Michigan	40 lb	1964	Houghton Lake
5	Iowa (this page)	38 lb 2 oz	2005	Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs)
6	Minnesota	38 lb	1975	Mississippi River
7	Ohio	37 lb 10 oz	1992	LaDue Reservoir
8	New York	37 lb 9 oz	2025	Black River Bay
9	Indiana	37 lb 8 oz	1980	Lake
10	Pennsylvania	35 lb 3 oz	1991	Lehigh Canal
11	Missouri	34 lb 10 oz	1976	Lake Jacomo
12	South Dakota	30 lb 1 oz	2019	Farm Pond

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

3 of Iowa's 19 standing records are heavier than the 38 lb 2 oz channel catfish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 13 Iowa records have stood longer, the channel catfish mark dating to 2005.

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 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 Brown Trout 15 lb 6 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.