Missouri State Record Smallmouth Bass: 7 lb 2 oz
The Missouri state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 2 oz. It was caught in 1994 from Stockton Lake by Kevin S. Clingan, and the Missouri Department of Conservation still recognizes it as the state mark 32 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Stockton Lake. 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.
Smallmouth Bass records by state
Missouri ranks 11 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 | 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 (this page) | 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 Missouri
14 of Missouri's 20 standing records are heavier than the 7 lb 2 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 8 Missouri records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 1994.