South Dakota State Record Fish 2026: All 20 Official Records
All 20 verified South Dakota record fish from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. The heaviest is the Paddlefish at 127 lb 9 oz, caught in 2014 on Lake Francis Case. The oldest standing record is the Sauger from 1960.
South Dakota state fishing records — the largest individual fish of each species ever caught and verified in the state — are maintained by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. 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 South Dakota 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 their water-quality readings is a useful exercise: coldwater species like trout and salmon tend to come from the clearest, lowest-nutrient waters, while warm-water trophies can come from across the range.
Record Fish by Species
South Dakota State Record Walleye
The South Dakota state record walleye weighed 17 lb 13 oz and measured 33.25 inches, caught in 2023 from Lake Oahe by Keith Pazour. Full walleye record →
South Dakota State Record Smallmouth Bass
The South Dakota state record smallmouth bass weighed 7 lb 4 oz and measured 20.75 inches, caught in 2021 from Lake Oahe by Troy Diede. Full smallmouth bass record →
South Dakota State Record Largemouth Bass
The South Dakota state record largemouth bass weighed 9 lb 5 oz and measured 23 inches, caught in 2020 from Indian Scout Lake by Matthew Dunham. Full largemouth bass record →
South Dakota State Record Muskellunge
The South Dakota state record muskellunge weighed 40 lb, caught in 1991 from Amsden Dam by Daniel B. Krueger. Full muskellunge record →
South Dakota State Record Northern Pike
The South Dakota state record northern pike weighed 36 lb 3 oz, caught in 1993 from Lake Oahe by Jeff Case. Full northern pike record →
South Dakota State Record Lake Trout
The South Dakota state record lake trout weighed 30 lb, caught in 2013 from Pactola Reservoir by Aaron Jones. Full lake trout record →
All South Dakota Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 17 lb 13 oz | 33.25 in | 2023 | Lake Oahe | — | Keith Pazour |
| Sauger | 7 lb 7 oz | — | 1960 | Oahe Tailwaters | — | Harvey Holzworth |
| Northern Pike | 36 lb 3 oz | — | 1993 | Lake Oahe | — | Jeff Case |
| Muskellunge | 40 lb | — | 1991 | Amsden Dam | — | Daniel B. Krueger |
| Largemouth Bass | 9 lb 5 oz | 23 in | 2020 | Indian Scout Lake | — | Matthew Dunham |
| Smallmouth Bass | 7 lb 4 oz | 20.75 in | 2021 | Lake Oahe | — | Troy Diede |
| White Bass | 4 lb 12 oz | — | 2011 | North Rush Lake | — | Steve Kennedy |
| Channel Catfish | 30 lb 1 oz | 38.25 in | 2019 | Farm Pond | — | Drew Mathews |
| Flathead Catfish | 67 lb 8 oz | 51.5 in | 2022 | Missouri River | — | Ethan Evink |
| Black Crappie | 3 lb 8 oz | — | 2004 | SDSU Pond | — | Benjamin Wight |
| White Crappie | 3 lb 9 oz | — | 1974 | Hughes County Farm Pond | Hughes | Gary Ernst |
| Bluegill | 3 lb 4 oz | — | 1980 | Stanley County Stock Dam | Stanley | Scott Sanner |
| Yellow Perch | 2 lb 13 oz | — | 2015 | Bitter Lake | — | Chase Jensen |
| Chinook Salmon | 31 lb 8 oz | — | 2016 | Lake Oahe | — | Darrick Koch |
| Brown Trout | 24 lb 8 oz | — | 1990 | Canyon Lake | — | Wilfred H. Huether |
| Rainbow Trout | 19 lb 4 oz | — | 1980 | Oahe Tailwaters | — | Tom Moore |
| Lake Trout | 30 lb | — | 2013 | Pactola Reservoir | — | Aaron Jones |
| Lake Sturgeon | 40 lb | — | 1990 | Missouri River | — | Daniel Bouza |
| Paddlefish | 127 lb 9 oz | — | 2014 | Lake Francis Case | — | Bill Harmon |
| Bigmouth Buffalo | 51 lb 9 oz | — | 1993 | Lake Mitchell | — | Reg Young |
Record Waters with Water-Quality Readings
1 of South Dakota's record fish came from lakes with nutrient and algae readings on record. See each lake's readings today:
Records by Decade
When each standing South Dakota record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How South Dakota Records Are Verified
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks 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 South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks 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, state record fish in every state, and the South Dakota lake directory.