Minnesota State Record Fish (2026)
All 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.
Heaviest
Lake Sturgeon
94 lb 4 oz · 1994
Oldest record
Northern Pike
1929 · Basswood Lake
Most recent record
Largemouth Bass
2005 · Auburn Lake
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 |
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. Catch-and-release length records are accepted for some species. Submit a record application within 30 days of the catch.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking and Minnesota lake directory.
Records compiled from the official Minnesota DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are submitted year-round; check the source page for the most recent verified entries. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Minnesota DNR.