Michigan State Record Lake Trout: 61 lb 8 oz
The Michigan state record lake trout weighed 61 lb 8 oz and measured 49 inches. It was caught in 1997 from Lake Superior, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 29 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Superior. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the Michigan lakes we do grade instead.
Lake Trout records by state
Michigan ranks 1 of 10 among the states in our index for record lake trout. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan (this page) | 61 lb 8 oz | 1997 | Lake Superior |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 47 lb | 1946 | Lake Superior |
| 3 | Minnesota | 43 lb 8 oz | 1955 | Lake Superior |
| 4 | New York | 41 lb 8 oz | 2003 | Lake Erie |
| 5 | Illinois | 39 lb 2 oz | 2021 | Lake Michigan |
| 6 | Indiana | 37 lb 8 oz | 2016 | Lake Michigan |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 31 lb 13 oz | 2019 | Lake Erie |
| 8 | South Dakota | 30 lb | 2013 | Pactola Reservoir |
| 9 | Ohio | 26 lb 10 oz | 2017 | Lake Erie |
| 10 | North Dakota | 16 lb 6 oz | 2012 | Missouri River |
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
1 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 61 lb 8 oz lake trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 14 Michigan records have stood longer, the lake trout mark dating to 1997.
Michigan lakes that hold lake trout
3 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold lake trout, ranked here by water-quality grade.