Indiana State Record Fish: All 21 Official Records (2026)
All 21 verified Indiana record fish from the Indiana DNR. The heaviest is the Blue Catfish at 104 lb, caught in 1999 on Ohio River. The oldest standing record is the Flathead Catfish from 1966.
The official Indiana state-fishing-records list is kept by Indiana DNR. Records range from prized gamefish like walleye, muskie, and bass to less-targeted species, and every one has been weighed and verified to the agency's standards.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in Indiana water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside the LakeQuality grade rubric is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the cleanest, highest-grade waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the grade distribution.
Record Fish by Species
Indiana State Record Walleye
The Indiana state record walleye weighed 14 lb 4 oz, caught in 1974 from Kankakee River in Lake County by Leon Richart.
Indiana State Record Muskellunge
The Indiana state record muskellunge weighed 42 lb 8 oz, caught in 2002 from James Lake in Kosciusko County by Darrin Conley. James Lake holds a Grade D water-quality score in our index.
Indiana State Record Northern Pike
The Indiana state record northern pike weighed 30 lb 2 oz, caught in 1992 from Clear Lake in Steuben County by Jack Barnes.
Indiana State Record Largemouth Bass
The Indiana state record largemouth bass weighed 14 lb 12 oz, caught in 1991 from Lake in Harrison County by Jenifer Schultz.
Indiana State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Indiana state record smallmouth bass weighed 8 lb 3 oz, caught in 2024 from Monroe Lake in Monroe County by Rex Remington. Monroe Lake holds a Grade D water-quality score in our index.
Indiana State Record Lake Trout
The Indiana state record lake trout weighed 37 lb 8 oz, caught in 2016 from Lake Michigan in Porter County by Tyler Kreighbaum.
All Indiana Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 14 lb 4 oz | — | 1974 | Kankakee River | Lake | Leon Richart |
| Sauger | 6 lb 1 oz | — | 1983 | Tippecanoe River | Carroll | Mark Bigger |
| Northern Pike | 30 lb 2 oz | — | 1992 | Clear Lake | Steuben | Jack Barnes |
| Muskellunge | 42 lb 8 oz | — | 2002 | James Lake | Kosciusko | Darrin Conley |
| Largemouth Bass | 14 lb 12 oz | — | 1991 | Lake | Harrison | Jenifer Schultz |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8 lb 3 oz | — | 2024 | Monroe Lake | Monroe | Rex Remington |
| Spotted Bass | 5 lb 5 oz | — | 2006 | Vigo County | Vigo | Larry Hinesley, Jr. |
| Striped Bass | 40 lb 3 oz | — | 2023 | Blue River | Harrison | Ciara Hawkins & Emily Hatfield |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 22 lb 2 oz | — | 2005 | Tippecanoe River | Carroll | David G. Coffman |
| Channel Catfish | 37 lb 8 oz | — | 1980 | Lake | Vanderburgh | Randy E. Jones |
| Flathead Catfish | 79 lb 8 oz | — | 1966 | White River | Lawrence | Glen T. Simpson |
| Blue Catfish | 104 lb | — | 1999 | Ohio River | — | Bruce Midkiff |
| Bluegill | 3 lb 4 oz | — | 1972 | Pond | Greene | Harold L. Catey |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lb 2 oz | — | 2024 | Lake Michigan | Lake | Blas Lara |
| Brown Trout | 29 lb 5 oz | — | 2006 | Lake Michigan | Lake | Glen Duesing |
| Rainbow Trout | 18 lb 8 oz | — | 1988 | Clear Lake | Steuben | Bill Bigger |
| Lake Trout | 37 lb 8 oz | — | 2016 | Lake Michigan | Porter | Tyler Kreighbaum |
| Chinook Salmon | 38 lb | — | 1980 | Trail Creek | La Porte | Rich Baker |
| Coho Salmon | 20 lb 12 oz | — | 1972 | Lake Michigan | LaPorte | John Beutner |
| Crappie | 4 lb 11 oz | — | 1994 | Private Lake | Jennings | Willis Halcomb |
| Common Carp | 43 lb 4 oz | — | 1989 | Pike Lake | Kosciusko | Russell Long |
Record Waters We Grade
3 of Indiana's record fish came from lakes in our water-quality index. See how each one grades today:
Records by Decade
When each standing Indiana record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Indiana Records Are Verified
Indiana DNR requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Indiana DNR records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking and Indiana lake directory.