Michigan State Record Largemouth Bass: 11 lb 15 oz
The Michigan state record largemouth bass weighed 11 lb 15 oz and measured 27 inches. It was caught in 1934 from Big Pine Island Lake in Kent County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 92 years later.
Where the record came from
Big Pine Island Lake is one of the Michigan lakes we grade. It holds a Grade C water-quality score today, based on clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal — a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.
CBig Pine Island Lake — Kent County, MI. See the full water-quality report →Largemouth Bass records by state
Michigan ranks 6 of 12 among the states in our index for record largemouth bass. Indiana holds the heaviest at 14 lb 12 oz, set in 1991.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 14 lb 12 oz | 1991 | Lake |
| 2 | Missouri | 13 lb 14 oz | 1961 | Bull Shoals Lake |
| 3 | Ohio | 13 lb 2 oz | 1976 | Farm pond |
| 4 | Illinois | 13 lb 1 oz | 1976 | Stone Quarry Lake |
| 5 | New York | 12 lb 6 oz | 2024 | Cayuga Lake |
| 6 | Michigan (this page) | 11 lb 15 oz | 1934 | Big Pine Island Lake |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 11 lb 3 oz | 1940 | Lake Ripley |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 11 lb 3 oz | 1983 | Birch Run Reservoir |
| 9 | Iowa | 10 lb 12 oz | 1984 | Lake Fisher |
| 10 | South Dakota | 9 lb 5 oz | 2020 | Indian Scout Lake |
| 11 | Minnesota | 8 lb 15 oz | 2005 | Auburn Lake |
| 12 | North Dakota | 8 lb 8 oz | 1983 | Nelson Lake |
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
13 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 11 lb 15 oz largemouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. It is also the oldest record on the books, unbeaten since 1934.
Michigan lakes that hold largemouth bass
172 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold largemouth bass, ranked here by water-quality grade.