Ohio State Record Black Crappie: 4 lb 8 oz
The Ohio state record black crappie weighed 4 lb 8 oz and measured 18.125 inches. It was caught in 1981 from Private lake by Ronald Stone, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife still recognizes it as the state mark 45 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Private lake. 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 Ohio lakes we do grade instead.
Black Crappie records by state
Ohio ranks 5 of 10 among the states in our index for record black crappie. Minnesota holds the heaviest at 5 lb, set in 1940.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5 lb | 1940 | Vermilion River |
| 2 | Missouri | 5 lb | 2006 | Private Pond |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 4 lb 8 oz | 1996 | Gile Flowage |
| 4 | Illinois | 4 lb 8 oz | 1976 | Rend Lake |
| 5 | Ohio (this page) | 4 lb 8 oz | 1981 | Private lake |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4 lb 3 oz | 2000 | Hammond Lake |
| 7 | Michigan | 4 lb 2 oz | 1947 | Lincoln Lake |
| 8 | New York | 4 lb 1 oz | 2018 | Lake Flavia |
| 9 | Iowa | 3 lb 15 oz | 2026 | Lake of Three Fires |
| 10 | South Dakota | 3 lb 8 oz | 2004 | SDSU Pond |
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 Ohio
16 of Ohio's 21 standing records are heavier than the 4 lb 8 oz black crappie — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 3 Ohio records have stood longer, the black crappie mark dating to 1981.