Iowa State Record White Bass: 5 lb 2 oz
The Iowa state record white bass weighed 5 lb 2 oz. It was caught in 2019 from East Okoboji Lake by Justin Sturtz, and the Iowa DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 7 years later.
Where the record came from
East Okoboji Lake is one of the Iowa lakes we grade. It holds a Grade D water-quality score today, based on clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal — a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.
DEast Okoboji Lake — Dickinson County, IA. See the full water-quality report →White Bass records by state
Iowa ranks 2 of 6 among the states in our index for record white bass. Missouri holds the heaviest at 5 lb 6 oz, set in 2002.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | 5 lb 6 oz | 2002 | Table Rock Lake |
| 2 | Iowa (this page) | 5 lb 2 oz | 2019 | East Okoboji Lake |
| 3 | Illinois | 4 lb 14 oz | 1981 | Kaskaskia River |
| 4 | South Dakota | 4 lb 12 oz | 2011 | North Rush Lake |
| 5 | North Dakota | 4 lb 10 oz | 2012 | Devils Lake |
| 6 | Ohio | 4 lb | 1983 | Gravel pit |
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
14 of Iowa's 19 standing records are heavier than the 5 lb 2 oz white bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 15 Iowa records have stood longer, the white bass mark dating to 2019.