Missouri State Record Largemouth Bass: 13 lb 14 oz
The Missouri state record largemouth bass weighed 13 lb 14 oz. It was caught in 1961 from Bull Shoals Lake by Marvin Russell Bushong, and the Missouri Department of Conservation still recognizes it as the state mark 65 years later.
Where the record came from
Bull Shoals Lake is one of the Missouri lakes we grade. It holds a Grade B 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.
BBull Shoals Lake — Taney County, MO. See the full water-quality report →Largemouth Bass records by state
Missouri ranks 2 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Missouri
12 of Missouri's 20 standing records are heavier than the 13 lb 14 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 1961.