Indiana Smallmouth Bass Record 2026: 8 lb 3 oz
The Indiana state record smallmouth bass weighed 8 lb 3 oz. It was caught in 2024 from Monroe Lake in Monroe County by Rex Remington, and the Indiana DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 2 years later.
Where the record came from
Monroe Lake is one of the Indiana lakes we grade. It holds a Grade NR water-quality score today, on nutrient and algae samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal — a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.
NRMonroe Lake — County, IN. See the full water-quality report →Smallmouth Bass records by state
Indiana ranks 6 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 (this page) | 8 lb 3 oz | 2024 | Monroe Lake |
| 7 | Minnesota | 8 lb | 1948 | West Battle Lake |
| 8 | Iowa | 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 Indiana
15 of Indiana's 21 standing records are heavier than the 8 lb 3 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 19 Indiana records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 2024.