South Dakota State Record White Bass: 4 lb 12 oz
The South Dakota state record white bass weighed 4 lb 12 oz. It was caught in 2011 from North Rush Lake by Steve Kennedy, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 15 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from North Rush 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.
White Bass records by state
South Dakota ranks 4 of 6 among the states in our index for record white bass. Missouri holds the heaviest at 5 lb 6 oz, set in 2002.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | 5 lb 6 oz | 2002 | Table Rock Lake |
| 2 | Iowa | 5 lb 2 oz | 2019 | East Okoboji Lake |
| 3 | Illinois | 4 lb 14 oz | 1981 | Kaskaskia River |
| 4 | South Dakota (this page) | 4 lb 12 oz | 2011 | North Rush Lake |
| 5 | North Dakota | 4 lb 10 oz | 2012 | Devils Lake |
| 6 | Ohio | 4 lb | 1983 | Gravel pit |
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
15 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 4 lb 12 oz white bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 10 South Dakota records have stood longer, the white bass mark dating to 2011.