How long has the North Dakota brown trout record stood?

21 years. The record was set in 2005 and remains the standing North Dakota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record brown trout?

Of the 12 states in our index with a brown trout record, Wisconsin holds the heaviest at 41 lb 8 oz (2010). North Dakota ranks 6 of 12 at 31 lb 11 oz.

North Dakota State Record Brown Trout: 31 lb 11 oz

Q: What is the North Dakota state record brown trout?

The North Dakota state record brown trout weighed 31 lb 11 oz and measured 36 inches. It was caught in 2005 from Missouri River by Timmy Johansen, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record brown trout weighed 31 lb 11 oz and measured 36 inches. It was caught in 2005 from Missouri River by Timmy Johansen, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 21 years later.

Weight

31 lb 11 oz

Length

36 in

Year set

2005

21 years standing

Water

Missouri River

Where the record came from

The record came from Missouri 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 North Dakota lakes we do grade instead.

Brown Trout records by state

North Dakota ranks 6 of 12 among the states in our index for record brown trout. Wisconsin holds the heaviest at 41 lb 8 oz, set in 2010.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Wisconsin	41 lb 8 oz	2010	Lake Michigan
2	Michigan	41 lb 7 oz	2009	Manistee River
3	Missouri	40 lb 6 oz	2019	Lake Taneycomo
4	Illinois	36 lb 11 oz	1996	Lake Michigan
5	New York	33 lb 2 oz	1997	Lake Ontario
6	North Dakota (this page)	31 lb 11 oz	2005	Missouri River
7	Indiana	29 lb 5 oz	2006	Lake Michigan
8	South Dakota	24 lb 8 oz	1990	Canyon Lake
9	Pennsylvania	20 lb 9 oz	2020	Lake Erie
10	Minnesota	16 lb 12 oz	1989	Lake Superior
11	Iowa	15 lb 6 oz	1995	North Prairie Lake
12	Ohio	14 lb 11 oz	2012	Lake Erie

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 North Dakota

4 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 31 lb 11 oz brown trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 6 North Dakota records have stood longer, the brown trout mark dating to 2005.

North Dakota lakes that hold brown trout

4 North Dakota lakes in our index are documented to hold brown trout, ranked here by water-quality grade.

BVelva Sportsmans Dam Lake — Ward County BKota Ray Dam Lake — Williams County BNorth Lemmon Lake — Adams County DSheep Creek Dam Lake — Grant County

All North Dakota brown trout lakes →

Other North Dakota records

Walleye 16 lb 6 oz Sauger 8 lb 12 oz Northern Pike 37 lb 8 oz Muskellunge 46 lb 8 oz Largemouth Bass 8 lb 8 oz Smallmouth Bass 6 lb 13 oz White Bass 4 lb 10 oz Channel Catfish 42 lb 1 oz Bluegill 2 lb 12 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb Chinook Salmon 31 lb 2 oz Rainbow Trout 21 lb 4 oz Lake Trout 16 lb 6 oz Paddlefish 131 lb Lake Whitefish 9 lb 3 oz

All 16 North Dakota state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.