South Dakota State Record Bluegill: 3 lb 4 oz
The South Dakota state record bluegill weighed 3 lb 4 oz. It was caught in 1980 from Stanley County Stock Dam in Stanley County by Scott Sanner, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 46 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Stanley County Stock Dam in Stanley County. 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 South Dakota lakes we do grade instead.
Bluegill records by state
South Dakota ranks 4 of 12 among the states in our index for record bluegill. Illinois holds the heaviest at 3 lb 8 oz, set in 1973.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 3 lb 8 oz | 1973 | Farm Pond |
| 2 | Ohio | 3 lb 4 oz | 1990 | Salt Fork Reservoir |
| 3 | Indiana | 3 lb 4 oz | 1972 | Pond |
| 4 | South Dakota (this page) | 3 lb 4 oz | 1980 | Stanley County Stock Dam |
| 5 | Iowa | 3 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Farm pond |
| 6 | Missouri | 3 lb | 1963 | Farm Pond |
| 7 | Minnesota | 2 lb 13 oz | 1948 | Alice Lake |
| 8 | Michigan | 2 lb 12 oz | 1983 | Vaughn Lake |
| 9 | North Dakota | 2 lb 12 oz | 1963 | Strawberry Lake |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 2 lb 9.8 oz | 1995 | Hayes Lake |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 2 lb 9 oz | 1983 | Keystone Lake |
| 12 | New York | 2 lb 8 oz | 1992 | Kohlbach 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 South Dakota
18 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 3 lb 4 oz bluegill — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 2 South Dakota records have stood longer, the bluegill mark dating to 1980.