Michigan State Record Muskellunge: 58 lb
The Michigan state record muskellunge weighed 58 lb and measured 59 inches. It was caught in 2012 from Lake Bellaire in Antrim County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 14 years later.
Where the record came from
Lake Bellaire is one of the Michigan lakes we grade. It holds a Grade C 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.
CLake Bellaire — Antrim County, MI. See the full water-quality report →Muskellunge records by state
Michigan ranks 3 of 12 among the states in our index for record muskellunge. New York holds the heaviest at 69 lb 15 oz, set in 1957.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 69 lb 15 oz | 1957 | St. Lawrence River |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 69 lb 11 oz | 1949 | Chippewa Flowage |
| 3 | Michigan (this page) | 58 lb | 2012 | Lake Bellaire |
| 4 | Ohio | 55 lb 2 oz | 1972 | Piedmont Lake |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 54 lb 3 oz | 1924 | Conneaut Lake |
| 6 | Minnesota | 54 lb | 1957 | Lake Winnibigoshish |
| 7 | Iowa | 50 lb 6 oz | 2000 | Spirit Lake |
| 8 | North Dakota | 46 lb 8 oz | 2007 | New Johns Lake |
| 9 | Indiana | 42 lb 8 oz | 2002 | James Lake |
| 10 | Missouri | 41 lb 2 oz | 1981 | Lake of the Ozarks |
| 11 | South Dakota | 40 lb | 1991 | Amsden Dam |
| 12 | Illinois | 38 lb 8 oz | 2002 | Kaskaskia River |
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
3 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 58 lb muskellunge — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 16 Michigan records have stood longer, the muskellunge mark dating to 2012.
Michigan lakes that hold muskellunge
10 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold muskellunge, ranked here by water-quality grade.