Minnesota State Record Fish 2026: All 16 Official Records
All 16 verified Minnesota record fish from the Minnesota DNR. The heaviest is the Lake Sturgeon at 94 lb 4 oz, caught in 1994 on Kettle River. The oldest standing record is the Northern Pike from 1929.
Minnesota state fishing records — the largest individual fish of each species ever caught and verified in the state — are maintained by the Minnesota DNR. Records have to be witnessed, weighed on a certified scale, and submitted with a clear photograph.
A state record tells you what a species is capable of in Minnesota water; the lakes where records were set tell you which specific basins have produced trophy-class fish historically. Cross-referencing the record-setting lakes against their water-quality readings can be revealing: clear, low-nutrient lakes tend to dominate the trout and walleye records, while warm-water trophy species sometimes come from more productive waters.
Record Fish by Species
Minnesota State Record Brook Trout
The Minnesota state record brook trout weighed 6 lb 5.6 oz and measured 23 inches, caught in 2004 from Lake Superior tributary in Cook County by Huel Anderson. Full brook trout record →
Minnesota State Record Walleye
The Minnesota state record walleye weighed 17 lb 8 oz and measured 35.8 inches, caught in 1979 from Seagull River in Cook County by LeRoy Chiovitte. Full walleye record →
Minnesota State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Minnesota state record smallmouth bass weighed 8 lb, caught in 1948 from West Battle Lake in Otter Tail County by John Creighton. Full smallmouth bass record →
Minnesota State Record Largemouth Bass
The Minnesota state record largemouth bass weighed 8 lb 15 oz and measured 23.5 inches, caught in 2005 from Auburn Lake in Carver County by Mark Raveling. Full largemouth bass record →
Minnesota State Record Muskellunge
The Minnesota state record muskellunge weighed 54 lb and measured 56 inches, caught in 1957 from Lake Winnibigoshish in Cass County by Art Lyons. Full muskellunge record →
Minnesota State Record Northern Pike
The Minnesota state record northern pike weighed 45 lb 12 oz, caught in 1929 from Basswood Lake in Lake County by J.V. Schanken. Full northern pike record →
All Minnesota Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 17 lb 8 oz | 35.8 in | 1979 | Seagull River | Cook | LeRoy Chiovitte |
| Northern Pike | 45 lb 12 oz | — | 1929 | Basswood Lake | Lake | J.V. Schanken |
| Muskellunge | 54 lb | 56 in | 1957 | Lake Winnibigoshish | Cass | Art Lyons |
| Largemouth Bass | 8 lb 15 oz | 23.5 in | 2005 | Auburn Lake | Carver | Mark Raveling |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8 lb | — | 1948 | West Battle Lake | Otter Tail | John Creighton |
| Lake Trout | 43 lb 8 oz | — | 1955 | Lake Superior | Cook | Donald Roggenkamp |
| Brown Trout | 16 lb 12 oz | — | 1989 | Lake Superior | St. Louis | Jerry Anderson |
| Rainbow Trout | 17 lb 6 oz | — | 1980 | Knife River | Lake | Ortwin Krause |
| Brook Trout | 6 lb 5.6 oz | 23 in | 2004 | Lake Superior tributary | Cook | Huel Anderson |
| Channel Catfish | 38 lb | — | 1975 | Mississippi River | Hennepin | Donovan Pohlson |
| Flathead Catfish | 70 lb | — | 1970 | St. Croix River | Washington | Mike Manley |
| Black Crappie | 5 lb | 21 in | 1940 | Vermilion River | Dakota | Tom Christenson |
| Bluegill | 2 lb 13 oz | — | 1948 | Alice Lake | Hubbard | Allen W. Tetrault |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lb 4 oz | — | 1945 | Lake Plantaganette | Hubbard | Carl Melin |
| Lake Sturgeon | 94 lb 4 oz | 70 in | 1994 | Kettle River | Pine | James DeOtis |
| Tiger Muskie | 34 lb 12 oz | — | 1999 | Lake Elmo | Washington | Anthony Stieg |
Record Waters with Water-Quality Readings
5 of Minnesota's record fish came from lakes with nutrient and algae readings on record. See each lake's readings today:
Records by Decade
When each standing Minnesota record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Minnesota Records Are Verified
Minnesota DNR requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Minnesota DNR records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking, state record fish in every state, and the Minnesota lake directory.