Iowa State Record Fish
As published by iowadnr.gov, checked Sep 17, 2026. 57 records. Iowa fishing tournaments
Records kept by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (agency website ↗).
| Species | Record | Year | Water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighead CarpAlso listed as Carp | 112.00 lbs.#2 of 10 states | 2018 | Des Moines River (Red Rock to Ottuma Dam) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 64.38 lbs.#3 of 18 states | 2007 | Lake Manawa | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Buffalo | 63.38 lbs.#2 of 9 states | 1999 | Pool 9, Mississippi River | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Bullhead CatfishAlso listed as Black Bullhead | 5.50 lbs.#4 of 18 states | 1986 | Farm pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Black Crappie | 3.88 lbs.#23 of 34 states | 2013 | Three Mile Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Blue Catfish | 105.00 lbs.#15 of 25 states | 2025 | Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Blue Sucker | 15.38 lbs. | 2011 | Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bluegill | 3.13 lbs.#14 of 40 states | 1986 | Farm pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Bowfin | 11.69 lbs.#20 of 27 states | 1994 | Pool 10, Mississippi River | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Brook Trout | 7.00 lbs.#16 of 33 states | 1996 | Fountain Springs | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Brown Bullhead CatfishAlso listed as Brown Bullhead | 1.25 lbs. | 2015 | Pool 9, Mississippi River | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Brown Trout | 15.38 lbs.#31 of 36 states | 1995 | North Prairie Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Channel Catfish | 38.13 lbs.#14 of 40 states | 2005 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Common Carp | 50.00 lbs.#11 of 37 states | 1969 | Glenwood Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Flathead Catfish | 81.00 lbs.#10 of 31 states | 1958 | Ellis Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Freshwater Drum | 46.00 lbs.#2 of 32 states | 1962 | Spirit Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Golden Redhorse | 2.41 lbs.#5 of 6 states | 2024 | Iowa River (above Iowa Falls) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Goldeye | 2.94 lbs.#5 of 14 states | 2004 | Pool 10, Mississippi River | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Grass Carp | 85.50 lbs.#1 of 16 states | 2007 | Greenfield Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Greater Redhorse | 8.20 lbs. | 2022 | Cedar River (above Nashua) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Green Sunfish | 2.06 lbs.#3 of 24 states | 2000 | Farm pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Hybrid Crappie | 4.08 lbs. | 2024 | Sundown Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 19.63 lbs.#14 of 26 states | 2005 | Saylorville Reservoir | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Largemouth Bass | 10.75 lbs.#36 of 43 states | 1984 | Lake Fisher | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Longnose Gar | 22.20 lbs.#17 of 25 states | 2021 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Mooneye | 1.52 lbs.#3 of 7 states | 2016 | Pool 9, Mississippi River | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| MuskellungeAlso listed as Musky | 50.38 lbs.#6 of 22 states | 2000 | Spirit Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Northern Hogsucker | 1.91 lbs.#4 of 8 states as Northern Hog Sucker | 2019 | Des Moines River (Humboldt to Stratford) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Northern Pike | 25.31 lbs.#25 of 33 states | 1977 | West Okoboji Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Paddlefish | 107.00 lbs.#8 of 11 states | 1981 | Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Pumpkinseed SunfishAlso listed as Pumpkinseed | 0.96 lbs.#17 of 22 states | 2020 | Lake Petocka | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 19.50 lbs.#16 of 39 states | 1984 | French Creek | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Redear Sunfish | 2.31 lbs.#20 of 25 states | 2018 | Farm pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| River Carpsucker | 1.85 lbs. | 2024 | Manhatten Robbins Lake Park | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| River Redhorse | 7.48 lbs.#6 of 6 states | 2020 | Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Rock Bass | 1.50 lbs.#16 of 26 states | 1973 | Pool 11, Mississippi River | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Sauger | 6.50 lbs.#10 of 25 states | 1976 | Missouri River (Sioux City to Little Sioux) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Saugeye | 12.25 lbs.#3 of 18 states | 2000 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Shorthead Redhorse | 3.65 lbs.#6 of 8 states | 2020 | Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Shortnose Gar | 8.05 lbs.#2 of 12 states | 2020 | Missouri River (Council Bluffs to state line) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | 12.00 lbs.#4 of 10 states | 1974 | Des Moines River (Ottumwa Dam to Farmington) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Silver Carp | 62.00 lbs.#1 of 6 states | 2018 | Des Moines River (Red Rock to Ottumwa Dam) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Silver Redhorse | 8.54 lbs.#4 of 8 states | 2018 | Wapsipinicon River (Oxford Junc. to Mississsippi River) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7.75 lbs.#24 of 40 states | 1980 | West Okoboji Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Smallmouth Buffalo | 43.00 lbs.#10 of 14 states | 2021 | Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Spotted Bass | 2.32 lbs. | 2021 | Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Spotted Sunfish (Stumpknocker)Also listed as Orangespotted Sunfish | 0.04 lbs. | 2024 | Frog Creek | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Striped Bass | 9.25 lbs. | 1983 | Rathbun Reservoir | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Tiger MuskellungeAlso listed as Tiger Musky | 27.13 lbs.#17 of 22 states | 1989 | West Okoboji Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Walleye | 14.50 lbs.#22 of 37 states | 1986 | Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock) | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Warmouth | 1.13 lbs.#16 of 20 states | 2018 | Farm pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| White Bass | 5.11 lbs.#13 of 31 states | 2019 | East Okoboji Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| White Crappie | 4.56 lbs.#7 of 28 states | 1981 | Green Castle Lake | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| White Sucker | 5.06 lbs.#12 of 16 states | 2016 | Otter Creek | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yellow Bass | 1.75 lbs.#12 of 15 states | 1991 | Lake Manawa | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yellow Bullhead CatfishAlso listed as Yellow Bullhead | 2.60 lbs.#11 of 17 states | 2024 | Private pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
| Yellow Perch | 2.79 lbs.#11 of 36 states | 2019 | Private pond | iowadnr.gov ↗Checked Sep 17, 2026 |
Weights and lengths are shown as each list gives them, with units spelled out. Record holders' names are on the linked lists. Where one list shows the same fish under two names, it appears once with both names. Waters that have a page in this directory are linked. A rank such as "#3 of 46 states" places a record among the states' records for that species by weight; it is shown only where the record matches the national ranking exactly.
Compare With Other States
- Bass records44 states
- Bowfin records27 states
- Carp records40 states
- Catfish records44 states
- Crappie records43 states
- Gar records27 states
- Muskie records32 states
- Panfish records42 states
- Perch records37 states
- Pike records34 states
- Striped bass records40 states
- Sturgeon records14 states
- Sucker records22 states
- Trout records41 states
- Walleye records40 states