North Dakota State Record Fish 2026: All 16 Official Records
All 16 verified North Dakota record fish from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The heaviest is the Paddlefish at 131 lb, caught in 2024 on Yellowstone River. The oldest standing record is the Bluegill from 1963.
The official North Dakota state-fishing-records list is kept by North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Records range from prized gamefish like walleye, muskie, and bass to less-targeted species, and every one has been weighed and verified to the agency's standards.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in North Dakota water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside their water-quality readings is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the clearest, lowest-nutrient waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the range.
Record Fish by Species
North Dakota State Record Walleye
The North Dakota state record walleye weighed 16 lb 6 oz and measured 33 inches, caught in 2021 from Lake Oahe by Jared Shypkoski. Full walleye record →
North Dakota State Record Smallmouth Bass
The North Dakota state record smallmouth bass weighed 6 lb 13 oz and measured 19 inches, caught in 2007 from Lake Darling in Renville County by Bruce Elberg. Full smallmouth bass record →
North Dakota State Record Largemouth Bass
The North Dakota state record largemouth bass weighed 8 lb 8 oz and measured 22 inches, caught in 1983 from Nelson Lake in Oliver County by Leon Rixen. Full largemouth bass record →
North Dakota State Record Muskellunge
The North Dakota state record muskellunge weighed 46 lb 8 oz and measured 54 inches, caught in 2007 from New Johns Lake in Burleigh County by Cory Bosch. Full muskellunge record →
North Dakota State Record Northern Pike
The North Dakota state record northern pike weighed 37 lb 8 oz and measured 48 inches, caught in 1968 from Lake Sakakawea by Melvin Slind. Full northern pike record →
North Dakota State Record Lake Trout
The North Dakota state record lake trout weighed 16 lb 6 oz and measured 33 inches, caught in 2012 from Missouri River by Royce (Pete) Johnston. Full lake trout record →
All North Dakota Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 16 lb 6 oz | 33 in | 2021 | Lake Oahe | — | Jared Shypkoski |
| Sauger | 8 lb 12 oz | 28 in | 1971 | Lake Sakakawea | — | Mike Fischer |
| Northern Pike | 37 lb 8 oz | 48 in | 1968 | Lake Sakakawea | — | Melvin Slind |
| Muskellunge | 46 lb 8 oz | 54 in | 2007 | New Johns Lake | Burleigh | Cory Bosch |
| Largemouth Bass | 8 lb 8 oz | 22 in | 1983 | Nelson Lake | Oliver | Leon Rixen |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6 lb 13 oz | 19 in | 2007 | Lake Darling | Renville | Bruce Elberg |
| White Bass | 4 lb 10 oz | 19 in | 2012 | Devils Lake | — | Charlie Vang |
| Channel Catfish | 42 lb 1 oz | 40 in | 2009 | Moon Lake | Barnes | Tina Willis |
| Bluegill | 2 lb 12 oz | — | 1963 | Strawberry Lake | McLean | Budd Hystad |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lb | 17 in | 2026 | Devils Lake | — | Alan Hintz |
| Chinook Salmon | 31 lb 2 oz | 41 in | 1986 | Missouri River | — | Thomas Schwartz |
| Brown Trout | 31 lb 11 oz | 36 in | 2005 | Missouri River | — | Timmy Johansen |
| Rainbow Trout | 21 lb 4 oz | 32 in | 1998 | Missouri River | — | Wade Weltz |
| Lake Trout | 16 lb 6 oz | 33 in | 2012 | Missouri River | — | Royce (Pete) Johnston |
| Paddlefish | 131 lb | 74 in | 2024 | Yellowstone River | — | Tyler Hughes |
| Lake Whitefish | 9 lb 3 oz | 25 in | 2025 | Missouri River | — | Lonnie Liebel |
Record Waters with Water-Quality Readings
5 of North Dakota's record fish came from lakes with nutrient and algae readings on record. See each lake's readings today:
Records by Decade
When each standing North Dakota record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How North Dakota Records Are Verified
North Dakota Game and Fish Department requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking, state record fish in every state, and the North Dakota lake directory.