Michigan State Record Flathead Catfish: 52 lb
The Michigan state record flathead catfish weighed 52 lb and measured 46 inches. It was caught in 2014 from Barron Lake in Cass County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 12 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Barron Lake in Cass 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.
Flathead Catfish records by state
Michigan ranks 10 of 10 among the states in our index for record flathead catfish. Illinois holds the heaviest at 81 lb 6 oz, set in 2005.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 81 lb 6 oz | 2005 | Sangchris Lake |
| 2 | Iowa | 81 lb | 1958 | Ellis Lake |
| 3 | Indiana | 79 lb 8 oz | 1966 | White River |
| 4 | Missouri | 77 lb 8 oz | 2003 | Montrose Lake |
| 5 | Ohio | 76 lb | 1972 | Piedmont Lake |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 74 lb 5 oz | 2001 | Wisconsin River |
| 7 | Minnesota | 70 lb | 1970 | St. Croix River |
| 8 | South Dakota | 67 lb 8 oz | 2022 | Missouri River |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 66 lb 6 oz | 2023 | Susquehanna River |
| 10 | Michigan (this page) | 52 lb | 2014 | Barron Lake |
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
4 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 52 lb flathead catfish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 17 Michigan records have stood longer, the flathead catfish mark dating to 2014.
Michigan lakes that hold flathead catfish
1 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold flathead catfish, ranked here by water-quality grade.