Record-Breaking Largemouth Bass From the Pacific Northwest and Every U.S. State

Post created March 6, 2026

Largemouth bass are among the most popular game fish for anglers across the United States, including many lakes and reservoirs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Every year, thousands of fishermen head out onto the water hoping to reel in a trophy-sized catch.

Most largemouth bass weigh between 1 and 5 pounds, but trophy fish can exceed 10 pounds. In rare cases, anglers have landed massive bass weighing more than 20 pounds, setting impressive state records.

For this gallery, we looked at largemouth bass records from across the country, including notable catches from the Pacific Northwest. The data was compiled using information from World Population Review and includes records from 49 states. Alaska is not included because largemouth bass are not native there and can threaten local ecosystems if introduced.

Click through the gallery to see the biggest largemouth bass ever caught in every state, including standout catches from the Pacific Northwest.

49. North Dakota

Bass fishing lure. Caught bass fish in fisherman hands. Largemouth perch — ©FedBul/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Leon Rixen

- Date: 11-02-1983

- Weight: 8 lbs, 8 oz

- Location: Nelson Lake

48. Minnesota

Big Bass Largemouth - Fishing — ©Pierre Rebollar/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Mark Raveling

- Date: 03-10-2005

- Weight: 8 lbs, 15 oz

- Location: Auburn Lake

47. South Dakota

Lifting huge largemouth bass out of lake. — ©Maclane Parker/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Matthew Dunham

- Date: 04-27-2020

- Weight: 9 lbs, 5 oz

- Location: Indian Scout Lake

46. Montana

- Angler: Brandon Wright

- Date: 04-27-2021

- Weight: 9 lbs, 9.28 oz

- Location: Lake Elmo

45. Hawaii

Flag of Hawaii waving — ©iStock.com/Andrea Izzotti

- Angler: Dickie Broyles

- Date: 01-26-1992

- Weight: 9 lbs, 9.4 oz

- Location: Waita Res., Kaua’i

44. Utah

Hite Crossing Bridge — ©Dreanaline, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License

- Angler: Sam Lamanna

- Date: 1974

- Weight: 10 lbs, 2 oz

- Location: Lake Powell

43. Vermont

Big largemouth bass — ©Connor Howe/Shutterstock.com

- Weight: 10 lbs, 4 oz

42. Rhode Island

Rhode Island state flag — ©iStock.com/rarrarorro

- Angler: N. Finamor

- Date: 05-01-1991

- Weight: 10 lbs, 6 oz

- Location: Carbuncle Pond

41. New Hampshire

Largemouth bass jumping at the surface fighting a minnow imitation lure. — ©iStock.com/stammphoto

- Angler: G. Bullpit

- Date: 1967

- Weight: 10 lbs, 8 oz

- Location: Lake Potanipo

40. Nebraska

flag of Nebraska — ©Box Lab/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Paul Abegglen Sr.

- Date: 02-10-1965

- Weight: 10 lbs, 11 oz

- Location: Sand Pit near Columbus

39. Iowa

Iowa, IA, political map, US state, nicknamed The Hawkeye State — ©PeterHermesFurian/ via Getty Images

- Angler: Patricia Zar

- Date: 01-05-1984

- Weight: 10 lbs, 12 oz

- Location: Lake Fisher

38. New Jersey

types of boats for lakes — ©Alter-ego/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Robert Eisele

- Date: 1980

- Weight: 10 lbs, 12 oz

- Location: Menantico Sand Wash Pond

37. Idaho

A roadside welcome to Idaho sign coming from Spokane Washington and entering North Idaho at Post Falls, Idaho, USA — ©Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Mrs. M.W. Taylor

- Weight: 10 lbs, 15 oz

- Location: Anderson Lake

36. Delaware

- Angler: Andre Klein

- Date: 02-20-2016

- Weight: 11 lbs, 1.6 oz

- Location: Wagamons Pond

35. Pennsylvania

Largemouth bass are often found near lay downs or other structures where they can ambush their prey. — ©iStock.com/stammphoto

- Angler: Donald Shade

- Date: 1983

- Weight: 11 lbs, 3 oz

- Location: Birch Run Reservoir, Adams County

34. Wisconsin

largest tech companies — ©rarrarorro/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Robert Milkowski

- Date: 12-10-1940

- Weight: 11 lbs, 3 oz

- Location: Lake Ripley, Jefferson County

33. New York

- Angler: John Higbie

- Date: 11-09-1987

- Weight: 11 lbs, 4 oz

- Location: Buckhorn Lake

32. Colorado

Ducks swim in Colorado's Echo Canyon Reservoir, a lake near Pagosa Springs, close to the border with New Mexico, with the San Juan Mountains, part of the Rocky Mountains, and trees, in summer 2024. — ©Zane Lewis/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Jarrett Edwards

- Date: 09-20-1997

- Weight: 11 lbs, 6 oz

- Location: Echo Canyon Reservoir (Archuleta County)

31. Maryland

Welcome to Maryland sign with yellow trees — ©Janece Flippo/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Colton Lambert

- Date: 07-31-2013

- Weight: 11 lbs, 6 oz

- Location: Huntington Farm Pond

30. Wyoming

Largemouth bass underwater in lake. — ©iStock.com/FtLaudGirl

- Angler: Dustin Shorma

- Date: 03-15-1992

- Weight: 11 lbs, 8 oz

- Location: stock pond, Sheridan County

29. Mississippi

- Angler: Anthony Denny

- Date: 12-31-1992

- Weight: 11 lbs, 9.92 oz

- Location: Natchez State Park Lake

28. Maine

- Angler: Robert Kamp

- Date: 1968

- Weight: 11 lbs, 10 oz

- Location: Moose Pond

27. Kansas

Flag of Kansas waving in the wind — ©iStock.com/Oleksii Liskonih

- Angler: Tyson Hallam

- Date: 03-05-2008

- Weight: 11 lbs, 12.8 oz

- Location: Private Pit Lake, Cherokee Co.

26. Michigan

- Date: 1934 & 1959

- Weight: 11 lbs, 15.04 oz

- Location: Big Pine Island Lake & Alcona Dam Pond

25. Nevada

Dusk at Sunset View Overlook, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada — ©Steve Lagreca/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Michael Geary

- Date: 1999

- Weight: 12 lbs, 0 oz

- Location: Lake Mead

24. Oregon

Flag of Oregon waving in the wind — ©Box Lab/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: B. Adam Hastings

- Date: 2002

- Weight: 12 lbs, 1.6 oz

- Location: Ballenger Pond, Springfield

23. West Virginia

smallmouth vs largemouth bass — ©iStock.com/stammphoto

- Angler: David W. Heeter

- Date: 1994

- Weight: 12 lbs, 4.48 oz

- Location: Pond, Grant County

22. Washington

A roadside welcome to Washington the Evergreen State sign in the rural area near Spokane, Washington, USA, coming from the state of Idaho. — ©Kirk Fisher/ via Getty Images

- Angler: Bill Evans

- Date: 08-08-2016

- Weight: 12 lbs, 8.48 oz

- Location: Lake Bosworth, Snohomish County

21. Connecticut

Meriden. Connecticut. USA — ©SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Frank Domurat

- Date: 1961

- Weight: 12 lbs, 14 oz

- Location: Mashapaug Lake, Union

20. Illinois

Flag of Illinois waving in the wind — ©railway fx/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Edward J. Walbel

- Date: 02-15-1976

- Weight: 13 lbs, 1 oz

- Location: Stone Quarry Lake

19. Ohio

Largemouth bass swimming in a Michigan inland lake — ©Focused Adventures/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Roy Landsberger

- Date: 05-26-1976

- Weight: 13 lbs, 2 oz

- Location: Private pond

18. Missouri

Aerial view of Bull Shoals lake located near Branson Missouri. — ©NSC Photography/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Marvin Russel Bushong

- Date: 04-21-1961

- Weight: 13 lbs, 14 oz

- Location: Bull Shoals Lake

17. Kentucky

Largemouth bass doing acrobatic jump in a Texas lake — ©River Monster Photography/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Mark Ward

- Date: 04-19-2019

- Weight: 14 lbs, 9.5 oz

- Location: Highsplint Lake

16. Indiana

Nice new sign to welcome travelers to the state of Indiana, Crossroads of America, and Lincoln's Boyhood Home. Indiana also celebrated two hundred years in 2016. — ©Sue Smith/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Jenifer Schultz

- Date: 05-27-1991

- Weight: 14 lbs, 12 oz

- Location: Seven Springs Lake

15. Oklahoma

Fall colors reflecting on Cedar Lake in southeast Oklahoma against blue November sky — ©Sari ONeal/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Dale Miller

- Date: 03-13-2013

- Weight: 14 lbs, 13.7 oz

- Location: Cedar Lake

14. Tennessee

The Chickamauga Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga — ©Natalia Lob/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Gabe Keen

- Date: 02-13-2015

- Weight: 15 lbs, 3 oz

- Location: Chickamauga Reservoir

13. Massachusetts

- Angler: Walter Bolonis

- Date: 02-13-1975

- Weight: 15 lbs, 8 oz

- Location: Sampson Pond, Carver

12. New Mexico

Bill Evans Lake — ©Carson Klemp/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Steve Estrada

- Date: 03-24-1995

- Weight: 15 lbs, 13 oz

- Location: Bill Evans Lake

11. North Carolina

Fishing Detail of a Large Mouth Bass in a Lake — ©Brookieland/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: William H. Wofford

- Date: 03-29-1991

- Weight: 15 lbs, 14 oz

- Location: Farm Pond, Union County

10. Louisiana

- Angler: Greg Wiggins

- Date: 1994

- Weight: 15 lbs, 15.52 oz

- Location: Caney Lake

9. South Carolina

Aerial views from over Interstate 95 at Lake Marion in Santee, South Carolina — ©David Garrison/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: P.H. Flanagan | Mason Cummings

- Date: 1949 | 1993

- Weight: 16 lbs, 2 oz

- Location: Lake Marion| Aiken Co. Pond

8. Virginia

Welcome to Virginia sign located at the Maryland, Virginia state border at Purcellville, Virginia. The black sign has a red heart shape and 'Virginia is for lovers' slogan underneath. — ©grandbrothers/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Richard Tate

- Date: 05-20-1985

- Weight: 16 lbs, 4 oz

- Location: Connor Lake

7. Arizona

Canyon Lake Arizona — ©Dean Pennala/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Randall E. White

- Date: 04-22-1997

- Weight: 16 lbs, 7.68 oz

- Location: Canyon Lake

6. Alabama

National flag of State of Alabama on a flagpole — ©Millenius/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Thomas (T. M.) Burgin

- Date: 03-11-1987

- Weight: 16 lbs, 8 oz

- Location: Mtn. View Lake, Shelby Co

5. Arkansas

The flags of the Arkansas state and United States waving in the wind. Democracy and independence. US state flag — ©rarrarorro/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Aaron Mardis

- Date: 02-03-1976

- Weight: 16 lbs, 8 oz

- Location: Mallard Lake

4. Florida

"Welcome to Florida" sign (The Sunshine State) — ©Ingo70/Shutterstock.com

- Angler: Billy O’Berry

- Date: 06-07-1986

- Weight: 17 lbs, 4.32 oz

- Location: Unnamed lake

3. Texas

- Angler: Barry St. Clair

- Date: 01-24-1992

- Weight: 18 lbs, 2.88 oz

- Location: Lake Fork

2. California

Castaic Lake California — ©iStock.com/David Diaz

- Angler: Jerry R. Perry

- Date: 05-03-1991

- Weight: 21 lbs, 12 oz

- Location: Castaic Lake (at the main boat ramp)

1. Georgia

Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) — ©Daniel Estabrooks / CC0 - Original / License

- Angler: George Perry

- Date: 06-02-1932

- Weight: 22 lbs, 4 oz

- Location: Montgomery Lake

Hi, I'm Ashleigh! Welcome to Seattle Travel, my little piece of beautiful PNW. This is home and I'm here to share all my experiences so visitors and locals alike can find the best experiences this part of the country has to offer. I started Seattle Travel in 2012 as a way to journal my experiences and over the years have been encouraged by family and friends to open up my adventures to everyone. I actively seek out the best food, activities, and day trips and give you a local perspective. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful areas in the world and my goal is to let you explore it to the fullest.

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