Wisconsin Smallmouth Bass Record 2026: 9 lb 1 oz
The Wisconsin state record smallmouth bass weighed 9 lb 1 oz. It was caught in 1950 from Indian Lake in Oneida County by Leon Stefonek, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 76 years later.
Where the record came from
Indian Lake 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.
Indian Lake — County, WI. See the full water-quality report →Smallmouth Bass records by state
Wisconsin ranks 3 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Wisconsin
11 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 9 lb 1 oz smallmouth bass — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 5 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the smallmouth bass mark dating to 1950.
Wisconsin lakes that hold smallmouth bass
412 Wisconsin lakes are documented to hold smallmouth bass, ranked here on nutrient and algae readings.