How long has the North Dakota walleye record stood?

5 years. The record was set in 2021 and remains the standing North Dakota mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record walleye?

Of the 12 states in our index with a walleye record, Missouri holds the heaviest at 21 lb 1 oz (1988). North Dakota ranks 8 of 12 at 16 lb 6 oz.

North Dakota State Record Walleye: 16 lb 6 oz

Q: What is the North Dakota state record walleye?

The North Dakota state record walleye weighed 16 lb 6 oz and measured 33 inches. It was caught in 2021 from Lake Oahe by Jared Shypkoski, and is recognized by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The North Dakota state record walleye weighed 16 lb 6 oz and measured 33 inches. It was caught in 2021 from Lake Oahe by Jared Shypkoski, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department still recognizes it as the state mark 5 years later.

Weight

16 lb 6 oz

Length

33 in

Year set

2021

5 years standing

Water

Lake Oahe

Where the record came from

The record came from Lake Oahe. 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.

Walleye records by state

North Dakota ranks 8 of 12 among the states in our index for record walleye. Missouri holds the heaviest at 21 lb 1 oz, set in 1988.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	Missouri	21 lb 1 oz	1988	Bull Shoals Lake
2	New York	18 lb 2 oz	2018	St. Lawrence River
3	Pennsylvania	18 lb 1 oz	2021	Youghiogheny River
4	Wisconsin	18 lb	1933	High Lake
5	South Dakota	17 lb 13 oz	2023	Lake Oahe
6	Minnesota	17 lb 8 oz	1979	Seagull River
7	Michigan	17 lb 3 oz	1951	Pine River
8	North Dakota (this page)	16 lb 6 oz	2021	Lake Oahe
9	Ohio	16 lb 3 oz	1999	Lake Erie
10	Illinois	15 lb 1 oz	2012	Pecatonica River
11	Iowa	14 lb 8 oz	1986	Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
12	Indiana	14 lb 4 oz	1974	Kankakee 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

7 of North Dakota's 16 standing records are heavier than the 16 lb 6 oz walleye — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 12 North Dakota records have stood longer, the walleye mark dating to 2021.

North Dakota lakes that hold walleye

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

AWood Lake — Benson County AFree Peoples Lake — Benson County AEpping-Springbrook Dam-Littoral Lake — Williams County AJarvis Beach Lake — Rolette County ASpiritwood Lake — Stutsman County ALake Upsilon — Rolette County ATwin Lakes — LaMoure County ARound Lake — McHenry County

All North Dakota walleye lakes →

Other North Dakota records

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 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.