South Dakota State Record White Crappie: 3 lb 9 oz
The South Dakota state record white crappie weighed 3 lb 9 oz. It was caught in 1974 from Hughes County Farm Pond in Hughes County by Gary Ernst, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks still recognizes it as the state mark 52 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Hughes County Farm Pond in Hughes County. 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.
White Crappie records by state
South Dakota ranks 5 of 5 among the states in our index for record white crappie. Iowa holds the heaviest at 4 lb 9 oz, set in 1981.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 4 lb 9 oz | 1981 | Green Castle Lake |
| 2 | Missouri | 4 lb 9 oz | 2000 | Farm Pond |
| 3 | Illinois | 4 lb 7 oz | 1973 | Farm Pond |
| 4 | Ohio | 3 lb 15 oz | 2024 | Glandorf Rod and Gun Club |
| 5 | South Dakota (this page) | 3 lb 9 oz | 1974 | Hughes County Farm Pond |
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
16 of South Dakota's 20 standing records are heavier than the 3 lb 9 oz white crappie — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 1 South Dakota records have stood longer, the white crappie mark dating to 1974.