Michigan State Record Smallmouth Bass: 9 lb 15 oz
The Michigan state record smallmouth bass weighed 9 lb 15 oz and measured 23.1 inches. It was caught in 2016 from Indian River in Cheboygan County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 10 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Indian River in Cheboygan County. 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.
Smallmouth Bass records by state
Michigan ranks 1 of 12 among the states in our index for record smallmouth bass. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan (this page) | 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 | 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 Michigan
14 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 9 lb 15 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 18 Michigan records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 2016.
Michigan lakes that hold smallmouth bass
117 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold smallmouth bass, ranked here by water-quality grade.