Minnesota State Record Black Crappie: 5 lb
The Minnesota state record black crappie weighed 5 lb and measured 21 inches. It was caught in 1940 from Vermilion River in Dakota County by Tom Christenson, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 86 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Vermilion River in Dakota 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 Minnesota lakes we do grade instead.
Black Crappie records by state
Minnesota ranks 1 of 10 among the states in our index for record black crappie. No state we track has produced a heavier one.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota (this page) | 5 lb | 1940 | Vermilion River |
| 2 | Missouri | 5 lb | 2006 | Private Pond |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 4 lb 8 oz | 1996 | Gile Flowage |
| 4 | Illinois | 4 lb 8 oz | 1976 | Rend Lake |
| 5 | Ohio | 4 lb 8 oz | 1981 | Private lake |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4 lb 3 oz | 2000 | Hammond Lake |
| 7 | Michigan | 4 lb 2 oz | 1947 | Lincoln Lake |
| 8 | New York | 4 lb 1 oz | 2018 | Lake Flavia |
| 9 | Iowa | 3 lb 15 oz | 2026 | Lake of Three Fires |
| 10 | South Dakota | 3 lb 8 oz | 2004 | SDSU Pond |
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 Minnesota
13 of Minnesota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 5 lb black crappie — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 Minnesota records have stood longer, the black crappie mark dating to 1940.
Minnesota lakes that hold black crappie
1386 Minnesota lakes in our index are documented to hold black crappie, ranked here by water-quality grade.