Michigan State Record Northern Pike: 39 lb
The Michigan state record northern pike weighed 39 lb and measured 51.5 inches. It was caught in 1961 from Dodge Lake in Schoolcraft County, and the Michigan DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 65 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Dodge Lake in Schoolcraft 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.
Northern Pike records by state
Michigan ranks 3 of 12 among the states in our index for record northern pike. New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz, set in 1940.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 46 lb 2 oz | 1940 | Great Sacandaga Lake |
| 2 | Minnesota | 45 lb 12 oz | 1929 | Basswood Lake |
| 3 | Michigan (this page) | 39 lb | 1961 | Dodge Lake |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 38 lb | 1952 | Lake Puckaway |
| 5 | North Dakota | 37 lb 8 oz | 1968 | Lake Sakakawea |
| 6 | South Dakota | 36 lb 3 oz | 1993 | Lake Oahe |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 35 lb | 2003 | Allegheny Reservoir |
| 8 | Indiana | 30 lb 2 oz | 1992 | Clear Lake |
| 9 | Illinois | 26 lb 15 oz | 1989 | Strip Mine |
| 10 | Iowa | 25 lb 5 oz | 1977 | West Okoboji Lake |
| 11 | Ohio | 22 lb 12 oz | 2016 | McKarns Lake |
| 12 | Missouri | 18 lb 9 oz | 1975 | Stockton 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
8 of Michigan's 20 standing records are heavier than the 39 lb northern pike — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 Michigan records have stood longer, the northern pike mark dating to 1961.
Michigan lakes that hold northern pike
99 Michigan lakes in our index are documented to hold northern pike, ranked here by water-quality grade.