Record fish caught in Iowa

Written by:
October 21, 2022
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Record fish caught in Iowa

Anglers the world over gather regularly for fishing derbies to see who can land the biggest catch. But record-breaking fish can be caught at anytime, weighed on an International Game Fish Association-certified scale at any number of tackle shops or marinas, and compared to the IGFA's online records database. Sport-fishing enthusiasts can even have their own scales certified by the IGFA for a $40 fee.

compiled a list of record fish caught in Iowa using data from . Fish pictured are not the actual record catch. Keep reading to see which bodies of water in your state hold some of the most massive fish around.

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M Huston // Shutterstock

Blue Catfish

- Weight: 74 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 53.375"
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Pat Lutz in 1999
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Bluegill Sunfish

- Weight: 3 lbs 2 oz
- Length: 12.875"
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Phil Algreen in 1986
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Miroslav Halama // Shutterstock

Bowfin

- Weight: 11 lbs 9 oz
- Length: 31.5"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Bill Gretten in 1994
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock

Brook Trout

- Weight: 7 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 19.75"
- Location: Fountain Springs Creek
- Record set by David Kovarik in 1996
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Brown Trout

- Weight: 15 lbs 6 oz
- Length: 29"
- Location: North Prairie Lake
- Record set by Gerold Lewis in 1995
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Eden, Janine and Jim // Wikimedia Commons

Buffalo

- Weight: 64 lbs 6 oz
- Length: 41.5"
- Location: Lake Manawa
- Record set by Lake Manawa in 2007
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WH_Pics // Shutterstock

Bullhead

- Weight: 5 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 22"
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Michael Hurd in 1989
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Carp

- Weight: 50 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 44"
- Location: Glenwood Lake
- Record set by Fred Hougland in 1969
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Aleron Val // Shutterstock

Channel Catfish

- Weight: 38 lbs 2 oz
- Length: 40"
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Dustin Curtis in 2005
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Crappie

- Weight: 4 lbs 9 oz
- Length: 21.25"
- Location: Green Castle Lake
- Record set by Ted Trowbridge in 1981
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Flathead Catfish

- Weight: 81 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 52"
- Location: Lake Ellis
- Record set by Joe Baze in 1958
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Roxana Gonzalez // Shutterstock

Freshwater Drum

- Weight: 46 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 38.5"
- Location: Spirit Lake
- Record set by R.F. Farra in 1962
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Commons

Goldeye

- Weight: 2 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Des Moines River
- Record set by Mark Ikle in 1992
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Vladimir Wrangel // Shutterstock

Grass Carp

- Weight: 61 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 49.5"
- Location: Greenfield Lake
- Record set by Tyler Warner in 1998
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Green Sunfish

- Weight: 2 lbs 1 oz
- Length: 12.5"
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Ralph Mayer in 2000
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Pierre Rebollar // Shutterstock

Largemouth Bass

- Weight: 10 lbs 14 oz
- Length: 23.5"
- Location: Lake Fisher
- Record set by Patricia Zaerr in 1984
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Mikhail Blajenov // Shutterstock

Longnose Gar

- Weight: 17 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 51"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Kevin Riley in 1992
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Muskellunge

- Weight: 50 lbs 6 oz
- Length: 52"
- Location: Spirit Lake
- Record set by Kevin Cardwell in 2000
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FedBul // Shutterstock

Northern Pike

- Weight: 25 lbs 5 oz
- Length: 45"
- Location: West Okoboji Lake
- Record set by Allen Forsberg in 1977
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Saran Jantraurai // Shutterstock

Paddlefish

- Weight: 107 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 69.5"
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Robert Pranschke in 1981
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Rainbow Trout

- Weight: 19 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 35"
- Location: French Creek
- Record set by Jack Renner in 1984
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Steve Brigman // Shutterstock

Rock Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 10.5"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Jim Driscoll in 1973
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Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock

Sauger

- Weight: 6 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 25"
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Mrs. W. Buser in 1976
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RLS Photo // Shutterstock

Saugeye

- Weight: 12 lbs 4 oz
- Length: 29.5"
- Location: Des Moines River
- Record set by Don Ostergaard in 2000
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GUNAWAN SIDIK // Shutterstock

Shortnose Gar

- Weight: 5 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 32.8""
- Location: Red Rock Lake
- Record set by Albert Augustin in 2008
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Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock

Shovelnose Sturgeon

- Weight: 12 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 33"
- Location: Des Moines River
- Record set by Randy Hemm in 1974
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock

Smallmouth Bass

- Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz
- Length: 22.75"
- Location: West Okoboji Lake
- Record set by Rick Gray in 1990
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock

Striped Bass

- Weight: 9 lbs 4 oz
- Length: 29"
- Location: Lake Rathbun
- Record set by Richard Pauley in 1983
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock

Sucker

- Weight: 15 lbs 1 oz
- Length: 32.25"
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Glen E. Dittman in 1983
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock

Tiger Muskellunge

- Weight: 27 lbs 2 oz
- Length: 47"
- Location: West Okoboji Lake
- Record set by Shannon Green in 1989
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wwwarjag //Shutterstock

Walleye

- Weight: 14 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 30.5"
- Location: Des Moines River
- Record set by Gloria Eoriatti in 1986
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock

White Bass

- Weight: 3 lbs 14 oz
- Length: 20"
- Location: West Okoboji Lake
- Record set by Bill Born in 1972
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Pelow Media // Shutterstock

Wiper (Whiterock) Bass

- Weight: 18 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 33.25"
- Location: Des Moines River
- Record set by Don Ostergaard in 1997
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Kevin H Knuth // Shutterstock

Yellow Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 9 oz
- Length: 14.5"
- Location: Lake Manawa
- Record set by Bill Campbell in 1991
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Kevin H Knuth // Shutterstock

Yellow Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 9 oz
- Length: 13.5"
- Location: Lake Anita
- Record set by Michael Gradick in 2000
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John Piekos // Shutterstock

Yellow Perch

- Weight: 2 lbs 3 oz
- Length: 14.75"
- Location: Morse Lake
- Record set by Daniel Borchardt in 1994

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