Indiana Chinook Salmon Record 2026: 38 lb
The Indiana state record chinook salmon weighed 38 lb. It was caught in 1980 from Trail Creek in La Porte County by Rich Baker, and the Indiana DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 46 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Trail Creek in La Porte County. It has no water-quality readings on this site: the lake index covers standing lakes with EPA Water Quality Portal samples, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Indiana lakes with readings instead.
Chinook Salmon records by state
Indiana ranks 3 of 7 among the states in our index for record chinook salmon. Michigan holds the heaviest at 47 lb 14 oz, set in 2021.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 47 lb 14 oz | 2021 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | New York | 47 lb 13 oz | 1991 | Salmon River |
| 3 | Indiana (this page) | 38 lb | 1980 | Trail Creek |
| 4 | South Dakota | 31 lb 8 oz | 2016 | Lake Oahe |
| 5 | North Dakota | 31 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Missouri River |
| 6 | Ohio | 29 lb 8 oz | 1989 | Lake Erie |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 28 lb 15 oz | 1990 | Lake Erie |
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 Indiana
5 of Indiana's 21 standing records are heavier than the 38 lb chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 Indiana records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 1980.