Where was the North Dakota record muskellunge caught?

New Johns Lake, in Burleigh County, North Dakota.

How long has the North Dakota muskellunge record stood?

19 years. The record was set in 2007 and remains the standing North Dakota 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). North Dakota ranks 8 of 12 at 46 lb 8 oz.

North Dakota State Record Muskellunge: 46 lb 8 oz

Q: What is the North Dakota state record muskellunge?

The North Dakota state record muskellunge weighed 46 lb 8 oz and measured 54 inches. It was caught in 2007 from New Johns Lake in Burleigh County by Cory Bosch, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record muskellunge weighed 46 lb 8 oz and measured 54 inches. It was caught in 2007 from New Johns Lake in Burleigh County by Cory Bosch, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 19 years later.

Weight

46 lb 8 oz

Length

54 in

Year set

2007

19 years standing

Water

New Johns Lake

Burleigh County

Where the record came from

The record came from New Johns Lake in Burleigh 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.

Muskellunge records by state

North Dakota ranks 8 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	54 lb	1957	Lake Winnibigoshish
7	Iowa	50 lb 6 oz	2000	Spirit Lake
8	North Dakota (this page)	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 North Dakota

1 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 46 lb 8 oz muskellunge — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 7 North Dakota records have stood longer, the muskellunge mark dating to 2007.

Other North Dakota records

Walleye 16 lb 6 oz Sauger 8 lb 12 oz Northern Pike 37 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 Bluegill 2 lb 12 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.