Minnesota State Record Channel Catfish: 38 lb
The Minnesota state record channel catfish weighed 38 lb. It was caught in 1975 from Mississippi River in Hennepin County by Donovan Pohlson, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 51 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Mississippi River in Hennepin 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.
Channel Catfish records by state
Minnesota ranks 6 of 12 among the states in our index for record channel catfish. Illinois holds the heaviest at 45 lb 4 oz, set in 1987.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 45 lb 4 oz | 1987 | Baldwin Lake |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 44 lb | 1962 | Wisconsin River |
| 3 | North Dakota | 42 lb 1 oz | 2009 | Moon Lake |
| 4 | Michigan | 40 lb | 1964 | Houghton Lake |
| 5 | Iowa | 38 lb 2 oz | 2005 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) |
| 6 | Minnesota (this page) | 38 lb | 1975 | Mississippi River |
| 7 | Ohio | 37 lb 10 oz | 1992 | LaDue Reservoir |
| 8 | New York | 37 lb 9 oz | 2025 | Black River Bay |
| 9 | Indiana | 37 lb 8 oz | 1980 | Lake |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 35 lb 3 oz | 1991 | Lehigh Canal |
| 11 | Missouri | 34 lb 10 oz | 1976 | Lake Jacomo |
| 12 | South Dakota | 30 lb 1 oz | 2019 | Farm 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
5 of Minnesota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 38 lb channel catfish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 8 Minnesota records have stood longer, the channel catfish mark dating to 1975.
Minnesota lakes that hold channel catfish
136 Minnesota lakes in our index are documented to hold channel catfish, ranked here by water-quality grade.