Michigan State Record Bluegill: 2 lb 12 oz
The Michigan state record bluegill weighed 2 lb 12 oz and measured 13.75 inches. It was caught in 1983 from Vaughn Lake in Alcona County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 43 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Vaughn Lake in Alcona 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.
Bluegill records by state
Michigan ranks 8 of 12 among the states in our index for record bluegill. Illinois holds the heaviest at 3 lb 8 oz, set in 1973.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 3 lb 8 oz | 1973 | Farm Pond |
| 2 | Ohio | 3 lb 4 oz | 1990 | Salt Fork Reservoir |
| 3 | Indiana | 3 lb 4 oz | 1972 | Pond |
| 4 | South Dakota | 3 lb 4 oz | 1980 | Stanley County Stock Dam |
| 5 | Iowa | 3 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Farm pond |
| 6 | Missouri | 3 lb | 1963 | Farm Pond |
| 7 | Minnesota | 2 lb 13 oz | 1948 | Alice Lake |
| 8 | Michigan (this page) | 2 lb 12 oz | 1983 | Vaughn Lake |
| 9 | North Dakota | 2 lb 12 oz | 1963 | Strawberry Lake |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 2 lb 9.8 oz | 1995 | Hayes Lake |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 2 lb 9 oz | 1983 | Keystone Lake |
| 12 | New York | 2 lb 8 oz | 1992 | Kohlbach 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
19 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 2 lb 12 oz bluegill — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 12 Michigan records have stood longer, the bluegill mark dating to 1983.
Michigan lakes that hold bluegill
178 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold bluegill, ranked here by water-quality grade.