Ohio State Record Northern Pike: 22 lb 12 oz
The Ohio state record northern pike weighed 22 lb 12 oz and measured 45 inches. It was caught in 2016 from McKarns Lake by Troy Klingler, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife still recognizes it as the state mark 10 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from McKarns 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.
Northern Pike records by state
Ohio ranks 11 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 | 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 (this page) | 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 Ohio
6 of Ohio's 21 standing records are heavier than the 22 lb 12 oz northern pike — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 15 Ohio records have stood longer, the northern pike mark dating to 2016.