South Dakota State Record Largemouth Bass: 9 lb 5 oz
The South Dakota state record largemouth bass weighed 9 lb 5 oz and measured 23 inches. It was caught in 2020 from Indian Scout Lake by Matthew Dunham, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 6 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Indian Scout Lake. 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 South Dakota lakes we do grade instead.
Largemouth Bass records by state
South Dakota ranks 10 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 (this page) | 9 lb 5 oz | 2020 | Indian Scout Lake |
| 11 | Minnesota | 8 lb 15 oz | 2005 | Auburn Lake |
| 12 | North Dakota | 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 South Dakota
12 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 9 lb 5 oz largemouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 16 South Dakota records have stood longer, the largemouth bass mark dating to 2020.