Ohio State Record Fish: All 21 Official Records (2026)
All 21 verified Ohio record fish from the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The heaviest is the Blue Catfish at 101 lb 2 oz, caught in 2024 on Twelve Mile Creek (Ohio River). The oldest standing record is the Muskellunge from 1972.
Ohio state fishing records — the largest individual fish of each species ever caught and verified in the state — are maintained by Ohio Division of Wildlife. A record-eligible catch has to be weighed on a certified scale, documented, and verified before it stands.
A state record marks what a species is capable of in Ohio water, and the lakes and rivers where those records were set point to the specific waters that have historically produced trophy-class fish. Reading the record-setting waters alongside the LakeQuality grade rubric is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the cleanest, highest-grade waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the grade distribution.
Record Fish by Species
Ohio State Record Walleye
The Ohio state record walleye weighed 16 lb 3 oz and measured 33 inches, caught in 1999 from Lake Erie by Tom Haberman.
Ohio State Record Muskellunge
The Ohio state record muskellunge weighed 55 lb 2 oz and measured 50.25 inches, caught in 1972 from Piedmont Lake by Joe D. Lykins.
Ohio State Record Northern Pike
The Ohio state record northern pike weighed 22 lb 12 oz and measured 45 inches, caught in 2016 from McKarns Lake by Troy Klingler.
Ohio State Record Largemouth Bass
The Ohio state record largemouth bass weighed 13 lb 2 oz and measured 25 inches, caught in 1976 from Farm pond by Roy Landsberger.
Ohio State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Ohio state record smallmouth bass weighed 9 lb 8 oz and measured 23.5 inches, caught in 1993 from Lake Erie by Randy Van Dam.
Ohio State Record Lake Trout
The Ohio state record lake trout weighed 26 lb 10 oz and measured 38 inches, caught in 2017 from Lake Erie by James J. Beres.
All Ohio Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 16 lb 3 oz | 33 in | 1999 | Lake Erie | — | Tom Haberman |
| Sauger | 7 lb 5 oz | 24.5 in | 1981 | Maumee River | — | Bryan Wicks |
| Saugeye | 14 lb 1 oz | 30.125 in | 2004 | Antrim Lake | — | Roger Sizemore |
| Northern Pike | 22 lb 12 oz | 45 in | 2016 | McKarns Lake | — | Troy Klingler |
| Muskellunge | 55 lb 2 oz | 50.25 in | 1972 | Piedmont Lake | — | Joe D. Lykins |
| Largemouth Bass | 13 lb 2 oz | 25 in | 1976 | Farm pond | — | Roy Landsberger |
| Smallmouth Bass | 9 lb 8 oz | 23.5 in | 1993 | Lake Erie | — | Randy Van Dam |
| White Bass | 4 lb | 21 in | 1983 | Gravel pit | — | Ira Sizemore |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 20 lb 13 oz | 32.5 in | 2024 | Caesar Creek Lake headwaters | — | Larry C. Powers |
| Channel Catfish | 37 lb 10 oz | 41.5 in | 1992 | LaDue Reservoir | — | Gus J. Gronowski |
| Flathead Catfish | 76 lb | 53 in | 1972 | Piedmont Lake | — | Dale C. Yoho |
| Blue Catfish | 101 lb 2 oz | 56.5 in | 2024 | Twelve Mile Creek (Ohio River) | Clermont | Jaylynn Parker |
| Black Crappie | 4 lb 8 oz | 18.125 in | 1981 | Private lake | — | Ronald Stone |
| White Crappie | 3 lb 15 oz | 18.5 in | 2024 | Glandorf Rod and Gun Club | — | Teresa Croy |
| Bluegill | 3 lb 4 oz | 12.75 in | 1990 | Salt Fork Reservoir | — | Willis D. Nicholes |
| Yellow Perch | 2 lb 14 oz | 15.75 in | 2016 | Lake Erie | — | David Berg |
| Brown Trout | 14 lb 11 oz | 27.25 in | 2012 | Lake Erie | — | Robert D. Campbell |
| Rainbow Trout | 21 lb 5 oz | 38 in | 2010 | Lake Erie | — | Jason Brooks |
| Lake Trout | 26 lb 10 oz | 38 in | 2017 | Lake Erie | — | James J. Beres |
| Chinook Salmon | 29 lb 8 oz | 42.875 in | 1989 | Lake Erie | — | Walter Shumaker |
| Coho Salmon | 13 lb 10 oz | 34.75 in | 1982 | Huron River | — | Barney Freeman |
Records by Decade
When each standing Ohio record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Ohio Records Are Verified
Ohio Division of Wildlife requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Ohio Division of Wildlife records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking and Ohio lake directory.