Michigan State Record Black Crappie: 4 lb 2 oz
The Michigan state record black crappie weighed 4 lb 2 oz. It was caught in 1947 from Lincoln Lake in Kent County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 79 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lincoln Lake in Kent 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 Michigan lakes we do grade instead.
Black Crappie records by state
Michigan ranks 7 of 10 among the states in our index for record black crappie. Minnesota holds the heaviest at 5 lb, set in 1940.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5 lb | 1940 | Vermilion River |
| 2 | Missouri | 5 lb | 2006 | Private Pond |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 4 lb 8 oz | 1996 | Gile Flowage |
| 4 | Illinois | 4 lb 8 oz | 1976 | Rend Lake |
| 5 | Ohio | 4 lb 8 oz | 1981 | Private lake |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4 lb 3 oz | 2000 | Hammond Lake |
| 7 | Michigan (this page) | 4 lb 2 oz | 1947 | Lincoln Lake |
| 8 | New York | 4 lb 1 oz | 2018 | Lake Flavia |
| 9 | Iowa | 3 lb 15 oz | 2026 | Lake of Three Fires |
| 10 | South Dakota | 3 lb 8 oz | 2004 | SDSU Pond |
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 Michigan
17 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 4 lb 2 oz black crappie — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 Michigan records have stood longer, the black crappie mark dating to 1947.
Michigan lakes that hold black crappie
61 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold black crappie, ranked here by water-quality grade.