South Dakota State Record Smallmouth Bass: 7 lb 4 oz
The South Dakota state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 4 oz and measured 20.75 inches. It was caught in 2021 from Lake Oahe by Troy Diede, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 5 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Oahe. 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.
Smallmouth Bass records by state
South Dakota ranks 9 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 South Dakota
14 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 7 lb 4 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 17 South Dakota records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 2021.