Where was the Pennsylvania record brown trout caught?

Lake Erie, in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

How long has the Pennsylvania brown trout record stood?

6 years. The record was set in 2020 and remains the standing Pennsylvania 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). Pennsylvania ranks 9 of 12 at 20 lb 9 oz.

Pennsylvania State Record Brown Trout: 20 lb 9 oz

Q: What is the Pennsylvania state record brown trout?

The Pennsylvania state record brown trout weighed 20 lb 9 oz. It was caught in 2020 from Lake Erie in Erie County by Robert J. Ferraro, and is recognized by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

The Pennsylvania state record brown trout weighed 20 lb 9 oz. It was caught in 2020 from Lake Erie in Erie County by Robert J. Ferraro, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission still recognizes it as the state mark 6 years later.

Weight

20 lb 9 oz

Length

Not recorded

Year set

2020

6 years standing

Water

Lake Erie

Erie County

Where the record came from

The record came from Lake Erie in Erie County. 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 Pennsylvania lakes we do grade instead.

Brown Trout records by state

Pennsylvania ranks 9 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	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 (this page)	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 Pennsylvania

7 of Pennsylvania's 18 standing records are heavier than the 20 lb 9 oz brown trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 14 Pennsylvania records have stood longer, the brown trout mark dating to 2020.

Other Pennsylvania records

Walleye 18 lb 1 oz Sauger 4 lb Northern Pike 35 lb Muskellunge 54 lb 3 oz Largemouth Bass 11 lb 3 oz Smallmouth Bass 8 lb 8 oz Striped Bass 53 lb 13 oz Channel Catfish 35 lb 3 oz Flathead Catfish 66 lb 6 oz Black Crappie 4 lb 3 oz Bluegill 2 lb 9 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb Rainbow Trout 15 lb 6 oz Brook Trout 7 lb Lake Trout 31 lb 13 oz Chinook Salmon 28 lb 15 oz Coho Salmon 15 lb 5 oz

All 18 Pennsylvania state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 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 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.