Michigan Brown Trout Record 2026: 41 lb 7 oz
The Michigan state record brown trout weighed 41 lb 7 oz and measured 43.75 inches. It was caught in 2009 from Manistee River in Manistee County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 17 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Manistee River in Manistee 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 Michigan lakes with readings instead.
Brown Trout records by state
Michigan ranks 2 of 12 among the states in our index for record brown trout. Wisconsin holds the heaviest at 41 lb 8 oz, set in 2010.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | 41 lb 8 oz | 2010 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | Michigan (this page) | 41 lb 7 oz | 2009 | Manistee River |
| 3 | Missouri | 40 lb 6 oz | 2019 | Lake Taneycomo |
| 4 | Illinois | 36 lb 11 oz | 1996 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | New York | 33 lb 2 oz | 1997 | Lake Ontario |
| 6 | North Dakota | 31 lb 11 oz | 2005 | Missouri River |
| 7 | Indiana | 29 lb 5 oz | 2006 | Lake Michigan |
| 8 | South Dakota | 24 lb 8 oz | 1990 | Canyon Lake |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 20 lb 9 oz | 2020 | Lake Erie |
| 10 | Minnesota | 16 lb 12 oz | 1989 | Lake Superior |
| 11 | Iowa | 15 lb 6 oz | 1995 | North Prairie Lake |
| 12 | Ohio | 14 lb 11 oz | 2012 | 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 Michigan
6 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 41 lb 7 oz brown trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 15 Michigan records have stood longer, the brown trout mark dating to 2009.
Michigan lakes that hold brown trout
3 Michigan lakes are documented to hold brown trout, ranked here on nutrient and algae readings.