Where was the Wisconsin record largemouth bass caught?

Lake Ripley, in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

How long has the Wisconsin largemouth bass record stood?

86 years. The record was set in 1940 and remains the standing Wisconsin mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record largemouth bass?

Of the 12 states we cover with a largemouth bass record, Indiana holds the heaviest at 14 lb 12 oz (1991). Wisconsin ranks 7 of 12 at 11 lb 3 oz.

Pink and orange afterglow over the treeline on Slim Lake after sunset

Wisconsin Largemouth Bass Record 2026: 11 lb 3 oz

Q: What is the Wisconsin state record largemouth bass?

The Wisconsin state record largemouth bass weighed 11 lb 3 oz. It was caught in 1940 from Lake Ripley in Jefferson County by Robert Bahr, and is recognized by the Wisconsin DNR.

The Wisconsin state record largemouth bass weighed 11 lb 3 oz. It was caught in 1940 from Lake Ripley in Jefferson County by Robert Bahr, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 86 years later.

Weight

11 lb 3 oz

Length

Not recorded

Year set

1940

86 years standing

Water

Lake Ripley

Jefferson County

Where the record came from

Lake Ripley is one of the Wisconsin lakes with water-quality readings on record. Its nutrient and algae samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal are on its lake page, a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.

Lake Ripley — County, WI. See the full water-quality report →

Largemouth Bass records by state

Wisconsin ranks 7 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 (this page)	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	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 Wisconsin

9 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 11 lb 3 oz largemouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the largemouth bass mark dating to 1940.

Wisconsin lakes that hold largemouth bass

1125 Wisconsin lakes are documented to hold largemouth bass, ranked here on nutrient and algae readings.

Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend — Washington County Big Cedar Lake-South Site-Near West Bend — Washington County Green Lake — Green Lake County Lake Beulah — Walworth County Okauchee Lake — Waukesha County Geneva Lake — Walworth County Powers Lake — Kenosha County Lac Courte Oreilles Lake — Sawyer County

All Wisconsin largemouth bass lakes →

Other Wisconsin records

Muskellunge 69 lb 11 oz Northern Pike 38 lb Walleye 18 lb Smallmouth Bass 9 lb 1 oz Lake Trout 47 lb Brown Trout 41 lb 8 oz Rainbow Trout 27 lb 2 oz Brook Trout 9 lb 15 oz Channel Catfish 44 lb Flathead Catfish 74 lb 5 oz Black Crappie 4 lb 8 oz Bluegill 2 lb 9.8 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb 4 oz Lake Sturgeon 170 lb 10 oz Pumpkinseed 1 lb 9 oz

All 16 Wisconsin state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Wisconsin DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Wisconsin DNR.