Where was the North Dakota record bluegill caught?

Strawberry Lake, in McLean County, North Dakota.

How long has the North Dakota bluegill record stood?

63 years. The record was set in 1963 and remains the standing North Dakota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record bluegill?

Of the 12 states in our index with a bluegill record, Illinois holds the heaviest at 3 lb 8 oz (1973). North Dakota ranks 9 of 12 at 2 lb 12 oz.

North Dakota State Record Bluegill: 2 lb 12 oz

Q: What is the North Dakota state record bluegill?

The North Dakota state record bluegill weighed 2 lb 12 oz. It was caught in 1963 from Strawberry Lake in McLean County by Budd Hystad, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record bluegill weighed 2 lb 12 oz. It was caught in 1963 from Strawberry Lake in McLean County by Budd Hystad, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 63 years later.

Weight

2 lb 12 oz

Length

Not recorded

Year set

1963

63 years standing

Water

Strawberry Lake

McLean County

Where the record came from

The record came from Strawberry Lake in McLean 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 North Dakota lakes we do grade instead.

Bluegill records by state

North Dakota ranks 9 of 12 among the states in our index for record bluegill. Illinois holds the heaviest at 3 lb 8 oz, set in 1973.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Illinois	3 lb 8 oz	1973	Farm Pond
2	Ohio	3 lb 4 oz	1990	Salt Fork Reservoir
3	Indiana	3 lb 4 oz	1972	Pond
4	South Dakota	3 lb 4 oz	1980	Stanley County Stock Dam
5	Iowa	3 lb 2 oz	1986	Farm pond
6	Missouri	3 lb	1963	Farm Pond
7	Minnesota	2 lb 13 oz	1948	Alice Lake
8	Michigan	2 lb 12 oz	1983	Vaughn Lake
9	North Dakota (this page)	2 lb 12 oz	1963	Strawberry Lake
10	Wisconsin	2 lb 9.8 oz	1995	Hayes Lake
11	Pennsylvania	2 lb 9 oz	1983	Keystone Lake
12	New York	2 lb 8 oz	1992	Kohlbach 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 North Dakota

15 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 2 lb 12 oz bluegill — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. It is also the oldest record on the books, unbeaten since 1963.

North Dakota lakes that hold bluegill

62 North Dakota lakes in our index are documented to hold bluegill, ranked here by water-quality grade.

AWood Lake — Benson County AArnegard Dam Lake — McKenzie County ASpiritwood Lake — Stutsman County ALake Upsilon — Rolette County BKota Ray Dam Lake — Williams County BPatterson Lake — Stark County BLake Ashtabula — Barnes County BLake Ashtabula — Barnes County

All North Dakota bluegill lakes →

Other North Dakota records

Walleye 16 lb 6 oz Sauger 8 lb 12 oz Northern Pike 37 lb 8 oz Muskellunge 46 lb 8 oz Largemouth Bass 8 lb 8 oz Smallmouth Bass 6 lb 13 oz White Bass 4 lb 10 oz Channel Catfish 42 lb 1 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb Chinook Salmon 31 lb 2 oz Brown Trout 31 lb 11 oz Rainbow Trout 21 lb 4 oz Lake Trout 16 lb 6 oz Paddlefish 131 lb Lake Whitefish 9 lb 3 oz

All 16 North Dakota state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department 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 North Dakota Game and Fish Department.