Where was the Minnesota record muskellunge caught?

Lake Winnibigoshish, in Cass County, Minnesota. Lake Winnibigoshish carries a Grade B water-quality score in our index today.

How long has the Minnesota muskellunge record stood?

69 years. The record was set in 1957 and remains the standing Minnesota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record muskellunge?

Of the 12 states in our index with a muskellunge record, New York holds the heaviest at 69 lb 15 oz (1957). Minnesota ranks 6 of 12 at 54 lb.

Minnesota State Record Muskellunge: 54 lb

Q: What is the Minnesota state record muskellunge?

The Minnesota state record muskellunge weighed 54 lb and measured 56 inches. It was caught in 1957 from Lake Winnibigoshish in Cass County by Art Lyons, and is recognized by the Minnesota DNR.

The Minnesota state record muskellunge weighed 54 lb and measured 56 inches. It was caught in 1957 from Lake Winnibigoshish in Cass County by Art Lyons, and the Minnesota DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 69 years later.

Weight

54 lb

Length

56 in

Year set

1957

69 years standing

Water

Lake Winnibigoshish

Cass County

Where the record came from

Lake Winnibigoshish is one of the Minnesota lakes we grade. It holds a Grade B water-quality score today, based on clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal — a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.

BLake Winnibigoshish — Cass County, MN. See the full water-quality report →

Muskellunge records by state

Minnesota ranks 6 of 12 among the states in our index for record muskellunge. New York holds the heaviest at 69 lb 15 oz, set in 1957.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	New York	69 lb 15 oz	1957	St. Lawrence River
2	Wisconsin	69 lb 11 oz	1949	Chippewa Flowage
3	Michigan	58 lb	2012	Lake Bellaire
4	Ohio	55 lb 2 oz	1972	Piedmont Lake
5	Pennsylvania	54 lb 3 oz	1924	Conneaut Lake
6	Minnesota (this page)	54 lb	1957	Lake Winnibigoshish
7	Iowa	50 lb 6 oz	2000	Spirit Lake
8	North Dakota	46 lb 8 oz	2007	New Johns Lake
9	Indiana	42 lb 8 oz	2002	James Lake
10	Missouri	41 lb 2 oz	1981	Lake of the Ozarks
11	South Dakota	40 lb	1991	Amsden Dam
12	Illinois	38 lb 8 oz	2002	Kaskaskia 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

2 of Minnesota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 54 lb muskellunge — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 6 Minnesota records have stood longer, the muskellunge mark dating to 1957.

Minnesota lakes that hold muskellunge

130 Minnesota lakes in our index are documented to hold muskellunge, ranked here by water-quality grade.

AIda Lake — Douglas County AGirl Lake — Cass County APelican Lake — Otter Tail County AAlexander Lake — Morrison County AGull Lake — Cass County AAndrusia Lake — Beltrami County ALizzie Lake — Otter Tail County APokegama Lake — Itasca County

All Minnesota muskellunge lakes →

Other Minnesota records

Walleye 17 lb 8 oz Northern Pike 45 lb 12 oz Largemouth Bass 8 lb 15 oz Smallmouth Bass 8 lb Lake Trout 43 lb 8 oz Brown Trout 16 lb 12 oz Rainbow Trout 17 lb 6 oz Brook Trout 6 lb 5.6 oz Channel Catfish 38 lb Flathead Catfish 70 lb Black Crappie 5 lb Bluegill 2 lb 13 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb 4 oz Lake Sturgeon 94 lb 4 oz Tiger Muskie 34 lb 12 oz

All 16 Minnesota state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Minnesota DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Minnesota DNR.