Ohio State Record Lake Trout: 26 lb 10 oz
The Ohio state record lake trout weighed 26 lb 10 oz and measured 38 inches. It was caught in 2017 from Lake Erie by James J. Beres, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife still recognizes it as the state mark 9 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Erie. 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 Ohio lakes we do grade instead.
Lake Trout records by state
Ohio ranks 9 of 10 among the states in our index for record lake trout. Michigan holds the heaviest at 61 lb 8 oz, set in 1997.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 61 lb 8 oz | 1997 | Lake Superior |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 47 lb | 1946 | Lake Superior |
| 3 | Minnesota | 43 lb 8 oz | 1955 | Lake Superior |
| 4 | New York | 41 lb 8 oz | 2003 | Lake Erie |
| 5 | Illinois | 39 lb 2 oz | 2021 | Lake Michigan |
| 6 | Indiana | 37 lb 8 oz | 2016 | Lake Michigan |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 31 lb 13 oz | 2019 | Lake Erie |
| 8 | South Dakota | 30 lb | 2013 | Pactola Reservoir |
| 9 | Ohio (this page) | 26 lb 10 oz | 2017 | Lake Erie |
| 10 | North Dakota | 16 lb 6 oz | 2012 | Missouri River |
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 Ohio
5 of Ohio's 21 standing records are heavier than the 26 lb 10 oz lake trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 17 Ohio records have stood longer, the lake trout mark dating to 2017.