Iowa Smallmouth Bass Record 2026: 7 lb 12 oz
The Iowa state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 12 oz. It was caught in 1980 from West Okoboji Lake by Rick Gray, and the Iowa DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 46 years later.
Where the record came from
West Okoboji Lake is one of the Iowa lakes with water-quality readings on record. Its nutrient and algae samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal are on its lake page, a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.
West Okoboji Lake — County, IA. See the full water-quality report →Smallmouth Bass records by state
Iowa ranks 8 of 12 among the states in our index for record smallmouth bass. Michigan holds the heaviest at 9 lb 15 oz, set in 2016.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 9 lb 15 oz | 2016 | Indian River |
| 2 | Ohio | 9 lb 8 oz | 1993 | Lake Erie |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 9 lb 1 oz | 1950 | Indian Lake |
| 4 | New York | 9 lb | 2024 | St. Lawrence River |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 8 lb 8 oz | 1997 | Scotts Run Lake |
| 6 | Indiana | 8 lb 3 oz | 2024 | Monroe Lake |
| 7 | Minnesota | 8 lb | 1948 | West Battle Lake |
| 8 | Iowa (this page) | 7 lb 12 oz | 1980 | West Okoboji Lake |
| 9 | South Dakota | 7 lb 4 oz | 2021 | Lake Oahe |
| 10 | Illinois | 7 lb 3 oz | 2019 | Lake Michigan |
| 11 | Missouri | 7 lb 2 oz | 1994 | Stockton Lake |
| 12 | North Dakota | 6 lb 13 oz | 2007 | Lake Darling |
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
11 of Iowa's 19 standing records are heavier than the 7 lb 12 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 3 Iowa records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 1980.