North Dakota State Record Lake Whitefish: 9 lb 3 oz
The North Dakota state record lake whitefish weighed 9 lb 3 oz and measured 25 inches. It was caught in 2025 from Missouri River by Lonnie Liebel, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 1 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Missouri River. 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.
Lake Whitefish records by state
North Dakota ranks 2 of 2 among the states in our index for record lake whitefish. New York holds the heaviest at 10 lb 8 oz, set in 1995.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 10 lb 8 oz | 1995 | Lake Pleasant |
| 2 | North Dakota (this page) | 9 lb 3 oz | 2025 | 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 North Dakota
9 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 9 lb 3 oz lake whitefish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 14 North Dakota records have stood longer, the lake whitefish mark dating to 2025.