Missouri State Record Rainbow Trout: 18 lb 1 oz
The Missouri state record rainbow trout weighed 18 lb 1 oz. It was caught in 2004 from Roaring River by Jason Harper, and the Missouri Department of Conservation still recognizes it as the state mark 22 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Roaring River. 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 Missouri lakes we do grade instead.
Rainbow Trout records by state
Missouri ranks 10 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 (this page) | 18 lb 1 oz | 2004 | Roaring River |
| 11 | Minnesota | 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 Missouri
11 of Missouri's 20 standing records are heavier than the 18 lb 1 oz rainbow trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 14 Missouri records have stood longer, the rainbow trout mark dating to 2004.