Iowa State Record Saugeye: 12 lb 4 oz
The Iowa state record saugeye weighed 12 lb 4 oz. It was caught in 2000 from Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) by Don Ostergaard, and the Iowa DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 26 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock). 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.
Saugeye records by state
Iowa ranks 2 of 2 among the states in our index for record saugeye. Ohio holds the heaviest at 14 lb 1 oz, set in 2004.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | 14 lb 1 oz | 2004 | Antrim Lake |
| 2 | Iowa (this page) | 12 lb 4 oz | 2000 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) |
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
9 of Iowa's 19 standing records are heavier than the 12 lb 4 oz saugeye — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 11 Iowa records have stood longer, the saugeye mark dating to 2000.