Minnesota State Record Smallmouth Bass: 8 lb
The Minnesota state record smallmouth bass weighed 8 lb. It was caught in 1948 from West Battle Lake in Otter Tail County by John Creighton, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 78 years later.
Where the record came from
West Battle Lake is one of the Minnesota lakes we grade. It holds a Grade A 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.
AWest Battle Lake — Otter Tail County, MN. See the full water-quality report →Smallmouth Bass records by state
Minnesota ranks 7 of 12 among the states in our index for record smallmouth bass. Michigan holds the heaviest at 9 lb 15 oz, set in 2016.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 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 (this page) | 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 Minnesota
11 of Minnesota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 8 lb smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 3 Minnesota records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 1948.
Minnesota lakes that hold smallmouth bass
444 Minnesota lakes in our index are documented to hold smallmouth bass, ranked here by water-quality grade.