Wisconsin State Record Lake Trout: 47 lb
The Wisconsin state record lake trout weighed 47 lb. It was caught in 1946 from Lake Superior in Bayfield County by Roy Groh, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 80 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Superior in Bayfield 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 Wisconsin lakes we do grade instead.
Lake Trout records by state
Wisconsin ranks 2 of 10 among the states in our index for record lake trout. Michigan holds the heaviest at 61 lb 8 oz, set in 1997.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 61 lb 8 oz | 1997 | Lake Superior |
| 2 | Wisconsin (this page) | 47 lb | 1946 | Lake Superior |
| 3 | Minnesota | 43 lb 8 oz | 1955 | Lake Superior |
| 4 | New York | 41 lb 8 oz | 2003 | Lake Erie |
| 5 | Illinois | 39 lb 2 oz | 2021 | Lake Michigan |
| 6 | Indiana | 37 lb 8 oz | 2016 | Lake Michigan |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 31 lb 13 oz | 2019 | Lake Erie |
| 8 | South Dakota | 30 lb | 2013 | Pactola Reservoir |
| 9 | Ohio | 26 lb 10 oz | 2017 | Lake Erie |
| 10 | North Dakota | 16 lb 6 oz | 2012 | Missouri River |
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 Wisconsin
3 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 47 lb lake trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 3 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the lake trout mark dating to 1946.