South Dakota State Record Northern Pike: 36 lb 3 oz
The South Dakota state record northern pike weighed 36 lb 3 oz. It was caught in 1993 from Lake Oahe by Jeff Case, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 33 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.
Northern Pike records by state
South Dakota ranks 6 of 12 among the states in our index for record northern pike. New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz, set in 1940.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 46 lb 2 oz | 1940 | Great Sacandaga Lake |
| 2 | Minnesota | 45 lb 12 oz | 1929 | Basswood Lake |
| 3 | Michigan | 39 lb | 1961 | Dodge Lake |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 38 lb | 1952 | Lake Puckaway |
| 5 | North Dakota | 37 lb 8 oz | 1968 | Lake Sakakawea |
| 6 | South Dakota (this page) | 36 lb 3 oz | 1993 | Lake Oahe |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 35 lb | 2003 | Allegheny Reservoir |
| 8 | Indiana | 30 lb 2 oz | 1992 | Clear Lake |
| 9 | Illinois | 26 lb 15 oz | 1989 | Strip Mine |
| 10 | Iowa | 25 lb 5 oz | 1977 | West Okoboji Lake |
| 11 | Ohio | 22 lb 12 oz | 2016 | McKarns Lake |
| 12 | Missouri | 18 lb 9 oz | 1975 | Stockton 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
5 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 36 lb 3 oz northern pike — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 7 South Dakota records have stood longer, the northern pike mark dating to 1993.