South Dakota State Record Lake Sturgeon: 40 lb
The South Dakota state record lake sturgeon weighed 40 lb. It was caught in 1990 from Missouri River by Daniel Bouza, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 36 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.
Lake Sturgeon records by state
South Dakota ranks 4 of 4 among the states in our index for record lake sturgeon. Michigan holds the heaviest at 193 lb, set in 1974.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 193 lb | 1974 | Mullett Lake |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 170 lb 10 oz | 1979 | Yellow Lake |
| 3 | Minnesota | 94 lb 4 oz | 1994 | Kettle River |
| 4 | South Dakota (this page) | 40 lb | 1990 | Missouri River |
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
3 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 40 lb lake sturgeon — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 South Dakota records have stood longer, the lake sturgeon mark dating to 1990.