Minnesota State Record Lake Sturgeon: 94 lb 4 oz
The Minnesota state record lake sturgeon weighed 94 lb 4 oz and measured 70 inches. It was caught in 1994 from Kettle River in Pine County by James DeOtis, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 32 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Kettle River in Pine 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.
Lake Sturgeon records by state
Minnesota ranks 3 of 4 among the states in our index for record lake sturgeon. Michigan holds the heaviest at 193 lb, set in 1974.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 193 lb | 1974 | Mullett Lake |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 170 lb 10 oz | 1979 | Yellow Lake |
| 3 | Minnesota (this page) | 94 lb 4 oz | 1994 | Kettle River |
| 4 | South Dakota | 40 lb | 1990 | Missouri River |
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
At 94 lb 4 oz, the lake sturgeon is the heaviest of the 16 standing Minnesota records. 12 Minnesota records have stood longer, the lake sturgeon mark dating to 1994.
Minnesota lakes that hold lake sturgeon
38 Minnesota lakes in our index are documented to hold lake sturgeon, ranked here by water-quality grade.