How long has the North Dakota northern pike record stood?

58 years. The record was set in 1968 and remains the standing North Dakota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record northern pike?

Of the 12 states we cover with a northern pike record, New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz (1940). North Dakota ranks 5 of 12 at 37 lb 8 oz.

Pink and orange afterglow over the treeline on Slim Lake after sunset

North Dakota Northern Pike Record 2026: 37 lb 8 oz

Q: What is the North Dakota state record northern pike?

The North Dakota state record northern pike weighed 37 lb 8 oz and measured 48 inches. It was caught in 1968 from Lake Sakakawea by Melvin Slind, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record northern pike weighed 37 lb 8 oz and measured 48 inches. It was caught in 1968 from Lake Sakakawea by Melvin Slind, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 58 years later.

Weight

37 lb 8 oz

Length

48 in

Year set

1968

58 years standing

Water

Lake Sakakawea

Where the record came from

The record came from Lake Sakakawea. It has no water-quality readings on this site: the lake index covers standing lakes with EPA Water Quality Portal samples, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the North Dakota lakes with readings instead.

Northern Pike records by state

North Dakota ranks 5 of 12 among the states in our index for record northern pike. New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz, set in 1940.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	New York	46 lb 2 oz	1940	Great Sacandaga Lake
2	Minnesota	45 lb 12 oz	1929	Basswood Lake
3	Michigan	39 lb	1961	Dodge Lake
4	Wisconsin	38 lb	1952	Lake Puckaway
5	North Dakota (this page)	37 lb 8 oz	1968	Lake Sakakawea
6	South Dakota	36 lb 3 oz	1993	Lake Oahe
7	Pennsylvania	35 lb	2003	Allegheny Reservoir
8	Indiana	30 lb 2 oz	1992	Clear Lake
9	Illinois	26 lb 15 oz	1989	Strip Mine
10	Iowa	25 lb 5 oz	1977	West Okoboji Lake
11	Ohio	22 lb 12 oz	2016	McKarns Lake
12	Missouri	18 lb 9 oz	1975	Stockton Lake

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

3 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 37 lb 8 oz northern pike — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 North Dakota records have stood longer, the northern pike mark dating to 1968.

Other North Dakota records

Walleye 16 lb 6 oz Sauger 8 lb 12 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 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.