South Dakota State Record Chinook Salmon: 31 lb 8 oz
The South Dakota state record chinook salmon weighed 31 lb 8 oz. It was caught in 2016 from Lake Oahe by Darrick Koch, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 10 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Lake Oahe. 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.
Chinook Salmon records by state
South Dakota ranks 4 of 7 among the states in our index for record chinook salmon. Michigan holds the heaviest at 47 lb 14 oz, set in 2021.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 47 lb 14 oz | 2021 | Lake Michigan |
| 2 | New York | 47 lb 13 oz | 1991 | Salmon River |
| 3 | Indiana | 38 lb | 1980 | Trail Creek |
| 4 | South Dakota (this page) | 31 lb 8 oz | 2016 | Lake Oahe |
| 5 | North Dakota | 31 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Missouri River |
| 6 | Ohio | 29 lb 8 oz | 1989 | Lake Erie |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 28 lb 15 oz | 1990 | Lake Erie |
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
6 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 31 lb 8 oz chinook salmon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 14 South Dakota records have stood longer, the chinook salmon mark dating to 2016.