How long has the Iowa walleye record stood?

40 years. The record was set in 1986 and remains the standing Iowa mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record walleye?

Of the 12 states in our index with a walleye record, Missouri holds the heaviest at 21 lb 1 oz (1988). Iowa ranks 11 of 12 at 14 lb 8 oz.

Iowa State Record Walleye: 14 lb 8 oz

Q: What is the Iowa state record walleye?

The Iowa state record walleye weighed 14 lb 8 oz and measured 30.5 inches. It was caught in 1986 from Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) in Polk County by Gloria Eoriatti, and is recognized by the Iowa DNR.

Q: Where was the Iowa record walleye caught?

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock), in Polk County, Iowa.

The Iowa state record walleye weighed 14 lb 8 oz and measured 30.5 inches. It was caught in 1986 from Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) in Polk County by Gloria Eoriatti, and the Iowa DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 40 years later.

Weight

14 lb 8 oz

Length

30.5 in

Year set

1986

40 years standing

Water

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)

Polk County

Where the record came from

The record came from Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) in Polk County. 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.

Walleye records by state

Iowa ranks 11 of 12 among the states in our index for record walleye. Missouri holds the heaviest at 21 lb 1 oz, set in 1988.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Missouri	21 lb 1 oz	1988	Bull Shoals Lake
2	New York	18 lb 2 oz	2018	St. Lawrence River
3	Pennsylvania	18 lb 1 oz	2021	Youghiogheny River
4	Wisconsin	18 lb	1933	High Lake
5	South Dakota	17 lb 13 oz	2023	Lake Oahe
6	Minnesota	17 lb 8 oz	1979	Seagull River
7	Michigan	17 lb 3 oz	1951	Pine River
8	North Dakota	16 lb 6 oz	2021	Lake Oahe
9	Ohio	16 lb 3 oz	1999	Lake Erie
10	Illinois	15 lb 1 oz	2012	Pecatonica River
11	Iowa (this page)	14 lb 8 oz	1986	Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
12	Indiana	14 lb 4 oz	1974	Kankakee River

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

8 of Iowa's 19 standing records are heavier than the 14 lb 8 oz walleye — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 7 Iowa records have stood longer, the walleye mark dating to 1986.

Other Iowa records

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 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.