Where was the North Dakota record smallmouth bass caught?

Lake Darling, in Renville County, North Dakota. Lake Darling carries a Grade B water-quality score in our index today.

How long has the North Dakota smallmouth bass record stood?

19 years. The record was set in 2007 and remains the standing North Dakota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record smallmouth bass?

Of the 12 states in our index with a smallmouth bass record, Michigan holds the heaviest at 9 lb 15 oz (2016). North Dakota ranks 12 of 12 at 6 lb 13 oz.

North Dakota State Record Smallmouth Bass: 6 lb 13 oz

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

The North Dakota state record smallmouth bass weighed 6 lb 13 oz and measured 19 inches. It was caught in 2007 from Lake Darling in Renville County by Bruce Elberg, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record smallmouth bass weighed 6 lb 13 oz and measured 19 inches. It was caught in 2007 from Lake Darling in Renville County by Bruce Elberg, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 19 years later.

Weight

6 lb 13 oz

Length

19 in

Year set

2007

19 years standing

Water

Lake Darling

Renville County

Where the record came from

Lake Darling is one of the North Dakota 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.

BLake Darling — Renville County, ND. See the full water-quality report →

Smallmouth Bass records by state

North Dakota ranks 12 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	7 lb 2 oz	1994	Stockton Lake
12	North Dakota (this page)	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 North Dakota

12 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 6 lb 13 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 7 North Dakota records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 2007.

North Dakota lakes that hold smallmouth bass

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

ASpiritwood Lake — Stutsman County BLake Ashtabula — Barnes County BLake Ashtabula — Barnes County BLake Darling — Renville County BLake Darling — Renville County BJamestown Reservoir — Stutsman County BBlacktail Dam Lake — Williams County BLake Williams — Kidder County

All North Dakota smallmouth 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 Largemouth Bass 8 lb 8 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.