Where was the North Dakota record largemouth bass caught?

Nelson Lake, in Oliver County, North Dakota. Nelson Lake carries a Grade D water-quality score in our index today.

How long has the North Dakota largemouth bass record stood?

43 years. The record was set in 1983 and remains the standing North Dakota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record largemouth bass?

Of the 12 states in our index with a largemouth bass record, Indiana holds the heaviest at 14 lb 12 oz (1991). North Dakota ranks 12 of 12 at 8 lb 8 oz.

North Dakota State Record Largemouth Bass: 8 lb 8 oz

Q: What is the North Dakota state record largemouth bass?

The North Dakota state record largemouth bass weighed 8 lb 8 oz and measured 22 inches. It was caught in 1983 from Nelson Lake in Oliver County by Leon Rixen, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record largemouth bass weighed 8 lb 8 oz and measured 22 inches. It was caught in 1983 from Nelson Lake in Oliver County by Leon Rixen, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 43 years later.

Weight

8 lb 8 oz

Length

22 in

Year set

1983

43 years standing

Water

Nelson Lake

Oliver County

Where the record came from

Nelson Lake is one of the North Dakota lakes we grade. It holds a Grade D 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.

DNelson Lake — Oliver County, ND. See the full water-quality report →

Largemouth Bass records by state

North Dakota ranks 12 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	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 (this page)	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 North Dakota

11 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 8 lb 8 oz largemouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 3 North Dakota records have stood longer, the largemouth bass mark dating to 1983.

North Dakota lakes that hold largemouth bass

21 North Dakota lakes in our index are documented to hold largemouth bass, ranked here by water-quality grade.

AWood Lake — Benson County BVelva Sportsmans Dam Lake — Ward County BKota Ray Dam Lake — Williams County BPatterson Lake — Stark County BNorthgate Dam Lake — Burke County BBaukol-Noonan Dam Lake — Divide County BNorth Lemmon Lake — Adams County BKettle Lake — Williams County

All North Dakota largemouth bass 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 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 Brown Trout 31 lb 11 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.