Ohio State Record Muskellunge: 55 lb 2 oz
The Ohio state record muskellunge weighed 55 lb 2 oz and measured 50.25 inches. It was caught in 1972 from Piedmont Lake by Joe D. Lykins, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife still recognizes it as the state mark 54 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Piedmont 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.
Muskellunge records by state
Ohio ranks 4 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Ohio
2 of Ohio's 21 standing records are heavier than the 55 lb 2 oz muskellunge — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. It is also the oldest record on the books, unbeaten since 1972.