Missouri State Record Fish 2026: All 20 Official Records
All 20 verified Missouri record fish from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The heaviest is the Blue Catfish at 130 lb, caught in 2010 on Missouri River. The oldest standing record is the Largemouth Bass from 1961.
The official Missouri state-fishing-records list is kept by Missouri Department of Conservation. Records range from prized gamefish like walleye, muskie, and bass to less-targeted species, and every one has been weighed and verified to the agency's standards.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in Missouri water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside their water-quality readings is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the clearest, lowest-nutrient waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the range.
Record Fish by Species
Missouri State Record Walleye
The Missouri state record walleye weighed 21 lb 1 oz, caught in 1988 from Bull Shoals Lake by Gerry H. Partlow. Full walleye record →
Missouri State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Missouri state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 2 oz, caught in 1994 from Stockton Lake by Kevin S. Clingan. Full smallmouth bass record →
Missouri State Record Largemouth Bass
The Missouri state record largemouth bass weighed 13 lb 14 oz, caught in 1961 from Bull Shoals Lake by Marvin Russell Bushong. Full largemouth bass record →
Missouri State Record Muskellunge
The Missouri state record muskellunge weighed 41 lb 2 oz, caught in 1981 from Lake of the Ozarks by Gene Snelling. Full muskellunge record →
Missouri State Record Northern Pike
The Missouri state record northern pike weighed 18 lb 9 oz, caught in 1975 from Stockton Lake by Gene Moore. Full northern pike record →
Missouri State Record Black Crappie
The Missouri state record black crappie weighed 5 lb, caught in 2006 from Private Pond by John R. Horstman. Full black crappie record →
All Missouri Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 21 lb 1 oz | — | 1988 | Bull Shoals Lake | — | Gerry H. Partlow |
| Sauger | 5 lb 1 oz | — | 1994 | Osage River | — | John "Buck" Hennessy |
| Muskellunge | 41 lb 2 oz | — | 1981 | Lake of the Ozarks | — | Gene Snelling |
| Largemouth Bass | 13 lb 14 oz | — | 1961 | Bull Shoals Lake | — | Marvin Russell Bushong |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 lb 2 oz | — | 1994 | Stockton Lake | — | Kevin S. Clingan |
| Spotted Bass | 7 lb 8 oz | — | 1966 | Table Rock Lake | — | Gene Arnaud |
| White Bass | 5 lb 6 oz | — | 2002 | Table Rock Lake | — | Scott Flood |
| Striped Bass | 65 lb 2 oz | — | 2015 | Bull Shoals Lake | — | Lawrence E. Dillman |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 21 lb 11 oz | — | 2019 | Lake of the Ozarks | — | Cesar Rodriguez |
| Channel Catfish | 34 lb 10 oz | — | 1976 | Lake Jacomo | — | Gerald R. Siebenmorgen |
| Flathead Catfish | 77 lb 8 oz | — | 2003 | Montrose Lake | — | Scott L. Brown |
| Blue Catfish | 130 lb | — | 2010 | Missouri River | — | Greg Bernal |
| Black Crappie | 5 lb | — | 2006 | Private Pond | — | John R. Horstman |
| White Crappie | 4 lb 9 oz | — | 2000 | Farm Pond | — | Samuel H. Barbee |
| Bluegill | 3 lb | — | 1963 | Farm Pond | — | Robert Michael Giovanini |
| Rainbow Trout | 18 lb 1 oz | — | 2004 | Roaring River | — | Jason Harper |
| Brown Trout | 40 lb 6 oz | — | 2019 | Lake Taneycomo | — | Bill Babler |
| Northern Pike | 18 lb 9 oz | — | 1975 | Stockton Lake | — | Gene Moore |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 56 lb | — | 1976 | Lake Loch Loma | — | Dr. W.J. Long |
| Common Carp | 50 lb 6 oz | — | 1996 | Rothwell Park Lake | — | Russell Tarr |
Record Waters with Water-Quality Readings
6 of Missouri's record fish came from lakes with nutrient and algae readings on record. See each lake's readings today:
Records by Decade
When each standing Missouri record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Missouri Records Are Verified
Missouri Department of Conservation requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Missouri Department of Conservation records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking, state record fish in every state, and the Missouri lake directory.