Pennsylvania State Record Rainbow Trout: 15 lb 6 oz
The Pennsylvania state record rainbow trout weighed 15 lb 6 oz. It was caught in 1986 from Jordan Creek in Lehigh County by Dennis L. Clouse, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission still recognizes it as the state mark 40 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Jordan Creek in Lehigh 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.
Rainbow Trout records by state
Pennsylvania ranks 12 of 12 among the states in our index for record rainbow trout. Illinois holds the heaviest at 31 lb 6 oz, set in 1993.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 31 lb 6 oz | 1993 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | New York | 31 lb 3 oz | 2004 | Lake Ontario |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 27 lb 2 oz | 1997 | Lake Michigan |
| 4 | Michigan | 26 lb 8 oz | 1975 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | Ohio | 21 lb 5 oz | 2010 | Lake Erie |
| 6 | North Dakota | 21 lb 4 oz | 1998 | Missouri River |
| 7 | Iowa | 19 lb 8 oz | 1984 | French Creek |
| 8 | South Dakota | 19 lb 4 oz | 1980 | Oahe Tailwaters |
| 9 | Indiana | 18 lb 8 oz | 1988 | Clear Lake |
| 10 | Missouri | 18 lb 1 oz | 2004 | Roaring River |
| 11 | Minnesota | 17 lb 6 oz | 1980 | Knife River |
| 12 | Pennsylvania (this page) | 15 lb 6 oz | 1986 | Jordan Creek |
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
9 of Pennsylvania's 18 standing records are heavier than the 15 lb 6 oz rainbow trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 Pennsylvania records have stood longer, the rainbow trout mark dating to 1986.