South Dakota State Record Muskellunge: 40 lb
The South Dakota state record muskellunge weighed 40 lb. It was caught in 1991 from Amsden Dam by Daniel B. Krueger, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 35 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Amsden Dam. 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.
Muskellunge records by state
South Dakota ranks 11 of 12 among the states in our index for record muskellunge. New York holds the heaviest at 69 lb 15 oz, set in 1957.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 69 lb 15 oz | 1957 | St. Lawrence River |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 69 lb 11 oz | 1949 | Chippewa Flowage |
| 3 | Michigan | 58 lb | 2012 | Lake Bellaire |
| 4 | Ohio | 55 lb 2 oz | 1972 | Piedmont Lake |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 54 lb 3 oz | 1924 | Conneaut Lake |
| 6 | Minnesota | 54 lb | 1957 | Lake Winnibigoshish |
| 7 | Iowa | 50 lb 6 oz | 2000 | Spirit Lake |
| 8 | North Dakota | 46 lb 8 oz | 2007 | New Johns Lake |
| 9 | Indiana | 42 lb 8 oz | 2002 | James Lake |
| 10 | Missouri | 41 lb 2 oz | 1981 | Lake of the Ozarks |
| 11 | South Dakota (this page) | 40 lb | 1991 | Amsden Dam |
| 12 | Illinois | 38 lb 8 oz | 2002 | Kaskaskia 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 muskellunge — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 6 South Dakota records have stood longer, the muskellunge mark dating to 1991.