South Dakota State Record Flathead Catfish: 67 lb 8 oz
The South Dakota state record flathead catfish weighed 67 lb 8 oz and measured 51.5 inches. It was caught in 2022 from Missouri River by Ethan Evink, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 4 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Missouri River. 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.
Flathead Catfish records by state
South Dakota ranks 8 of 10 among the states in our index for record flathead catfish. Illinois holds the heaviest at 81 lb 6 oz, set in 2005.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 81 lb 6 oz | 2005 | Sangchris Lake |
| 2 | Iowa | 81 lb | 1958 | Ellis Lake |
| 3 | Indiana | 79 lb 8 oz | 1966 | White River |
| 4 | Missouri | 77 lb 8 oz | 2003 | Montrose Lake |
| 5 | Ohio | 76 lb | 1972 | Piedmont Lake |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 74 lb 5 oz | 2001 | Wisconsin River |
| 7 | Minnesota | 70 lb | 1970 | St. Croix River |
| 8 | South Dakota (this page) | 67 lb 8 oz | 2022 | Missouri River |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 66 lb 6 oz | 2023 | Susquehanna River |
| 10 | Michigan | 52 lb | 2014 | Barron 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 South Dakota
1 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 67 lb 8 oz flathead catfish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 18 South Dakota records have stood longer, the flathead catfish mark dating to 2022.