Michigan State Record Channel Catfish: 40 lb
The Michigan state record channel catfish weighed 40 lb and measured 41.5 inches. It was caught in 1964 from Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 62 years later.
Where the record came from
Houghton Lake is one of the Michigan lakes we grade. It holds a Grade B water-quality score today, based on clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal — a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.
BHoughton Lake — Roscommon County, MI. See the full water-quality report →Channel Catfish records by state
Michigan ranks 4 of 12 among the states in our index for record channel catfish. Illinois holds the heaviest at 45 lb 4 oz, set in 1987.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 45 lb 4 oz | 1987 | Baldwin Lake |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 44 lb | 1962 | Wisconsin River |
| 3 | North Dakota | 42 lb 1 oz | 2009 | Moon Lake |
| 4 | Michigan (this page) | 40 lb | 1964 | Houghton Lake |
| 5 | Iowa | 38 lb 2 oz | 2005 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) |
| 6 | Minnesota | 38 lb | 1975 | Mississippi River |
| 7 | Ohio | 37 lb 10 oz | 1992 | LaDue Reservoir |
| 8 | New York | 37 lb 9 oz | 2025 | Black River Bay |
| 9 | Indiana | 37 lb 8 oz | 1980 | Lake |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 35 lb 3 oz | 1991 | Lehigh Canal |
| 11 | Missouri | 34 lb 10 oz | 1976 | Lake Jacomo |
| 12 | South Dakota | 30 lb 1 oz | 2019 | Farm 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
7 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 40 lb channel catfish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 5 Michigan records have stood longer, the channel catfish mark dating to 1964.