Where was the Minnesota record rainbow trout caught?

Knife River, in Lake County, Minnesota.

How long has the Minnesota rainbow trout record stood?

46 years. The record was set in 1980 and remains the standing Minnesota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record rainbow trout?

Of the 12 states we cover with a rainbow trout record, Illinois holds the heaviest at 31 lb 6 oz (1993). Minnesota ranks 11 of 12 at 17 lb 6 oz.

Pink and orange afterglow over the treeline on Slim Lake after sunset

Minnesota Rainbow Trout Record 2026: 17 lb 6 oz

Q: What is the Minnesota state record rainbow trout?

The Minnesota state record rainbow trout weighed 17 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1980 from Knife River in Lake County by Ortwin Krause, and is recognized by the Minnesota DNR.

The Minnesota state record rainbow trout weighed 17 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1980 from Knife River in Lake County by Ortwin Krause, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 46 years later.

Weight

17 lb 6 oz

Length

Not recorded

Year set

1980

46 years standing

Water

Knife River

Lake County

Where the record came from

The record came from Knife River in Lake 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 Minnesota lakes with readings instead.

Rainbow Trout records by state

Minnesota ranks 11 of 12 among the states in our index for record rainbow trout. Illinois holds the heaviest at 31 lb 6 oz, set in 1993.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Illinois	31 lb 6 oz	1993	Lake Michigan
2	New York	31 lb 3 oz	2004	Lake Ontario
3	Wisconsin	27 lb 2 oz	1997	Lake Michigan
4	Michigan	26 lb 8 oz	1975	Lake Michigan
5	Ohio	21 lb 5 oz	2010	Lake Erie
6	North Dakota	21 lb 4 oz	1998	Missouri River
7	Iowa	19 lb 8 oz	1984	French Creek
8	South Dakota	19 lb 4 oz	1980	Oahe Tailwaters
9	Indiana	18 lb 8 oz	1988	Clear Lake
10	Missouri	18 lb 1 oz	2004	Roaring River
11	Minnesota (this page)	17 lb 6 oz	1980	Knife River
12	Pennsylvania	15 lb 6 oz	1986	Jordan Creek

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 Minnesota

8 of Minnesota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 17 lb 6 oz rainbow trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 10 Minnesota records have stood longer, the rainbow trout mark dating to 1980.

Minnesota lakes that hold rainbow trout

23 Minnesota lakes are documented to hold rainbow trout, ranked here on nutrient and algae readings.

Bad Medicine Lake — Becker County Birch Lake — Cook County Long Lake — Clearwater County Trout Lake — Cook County Blue Lake — Hubbard County Island Lake — Clearwater County Mayhew Lake — Cook County Bean Lake — Lake County

All Minnesota rainbow trout lakes →

Other Minnesota records

Walleye 17 lb 8 oz Northern Pike 45 lb 12 oz Muskellunge 54 lb Largemouth Bass 8 lb 15 oz Smallmouth Bass 8 lb Lake Trout 43 lb 8 oz Brown Trout 16 lb 12 oz Brook Trout 6 lb 5.6 oz Channel Catfish 38 lb Flathead Catfish 70 lb Black Crappie 5 lb Bluegill 2 lb 13 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb 4 oz Lake Sturgeon 94 lb 4 oz Tiger Muskie 34 lb 12 oz

All 16 Minnesota state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Minnesota DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Minnesota DNR.