Wisconsin State Record Rainbow Trout: 27 lb 2 oz
The Wisconsin state record rainbow trout weighed 27 lb 2 oz. It was caught in 1997 from Lake Michigan in Door County by Lee Sisson, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 29 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Michigan in Door 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.
Rainbow Trout records by state
Wisconsin ranks 3 of 12 among the states in our index for record rainbow trout. Illinois holds the heaviest at 31 lb 6 oz, set in 1993.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 31 lb 6 oz | 1993 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | New York | 31 lb 3 oz | 2004 | Lake Ontario |
| 3 | Wisconsin (this page) | 27 lb 2 oz | 1997 | Lake Michigan |
| 4 | Michigan | 26 lb 8 oz | 1975 | Lake Michigan |
| 5 | Ohio | 21 lb 5 oz | 2010 | Lake Erie |
| 6 | North Dakota | 21 lb 4 oz | 1998 | Missouri River |
| 7 | Iowa | 19 lb 8 oz | 1984 | French Creek |
| 8 | South Dakota | 19 lb 4 oz | 1980 | Oahe Tailwaters |
| 9 | Indiana | 18 lb 8 oz | 1988 | Clear Lake |
| 10 | Missouri | 18 lb 1 oz | 2004 | Roaring River |
| 11 | Minnesota | 17 lb 6 oz | 1980 | Knife River |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 15 lb 6 oz | 1986 | Jordan Creek |
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
7 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 27 lb 2 oz rainbow trout — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 13 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the rainbow trout mark dating to 1997.