Wisconsin State Record Fish 2026: All 16 Official Records
All 16 verified Wisconsin record fish from the Wisconsin DNR. The heaviest is the Lake Sturgeon at 170 lb 10 oz, caught in 1979 on Yellow Lake. The oldest standing record is the Walleye from 1933.
Wisconsin state fishing records are maintained by the Wisconsin DNR. Each verified record requires a certified-scale weight, official witness, and a documented catch location.
Knowing where Wisconsin records were set is useful context for serious anglers: a lake that has produced a record fish has, by definition, the depth, prey base, and habitat to support that species at trophy size. Reading the record-setting lakes alongside their water-quality readings is a useful exercise: some species, particularly trout and salmon, only set records on the clearest, lowest-nutrient lakes, while warm-water species can come from anywhere on the range.
Record Fish by Species
Wisconsin State Record Brook Trout
The Wisconsin state record brook trout weighed 9 lb 15 oz, caught in 1944 from Prairie River in Lincoln County by John Schaffer. Full brook trout record →
Wisconsin State Record Walleye
The Wisconsin state record walleye weighed 18 lb, caught in 1933 from High Lake in Vilas County by Tony Burrey. Full walleye record →
Wisconsin State Record Smallmouth Bass
The Wisconsin state record smallmouth bass weighed 9 lb 1 oz, caught in 1950 from Indian Lake in Oneida County by Leon Stefonek. Full smallmouth bass record →
Wisconsin State Record Largemouth Bass
The Wisconsin state record largemouth bass weighed 11 lb 3 oz, caught in 1940 from Lake Ripley in Jefferson County by Robert Bahr. Full largemouth bass record →
Wisconsin State Record Muskellunge
The Wisconsin state record muskellunge weighed 69 lb 11 oz and measured 63.5 inches, caught in 1949 from Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County by Cal Johnson. Full muskellunge record →
Wisconsin State Record Northern Pike
The Wisconsin state record northern pike weighed 38 lb, caught in 1952 from Lake Puckaway in Green Lake County by F. P. Schulenburg. Full northern pike record →
All Wisconsin Records
| Species | Weight | Length | Year | Water | County | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 69 lb 11 oz | 63.5 in | 1949 | Chippewa Flowage | Sawyer | Cal Johnson |
| Northern Pike | 38 lb | — | 1952 | Lake Puckaway | Green Lake | F. P. Schulenburg |
| Walleye | 18 lb | — | 1933 | High Lake | Vilas | Tony Burrey |
| Largemouth Bass | 11 lb 3 oz | — | 1940 | Lake Ripley | Jefferson | Robert Bahr |
| Smallmouth Bass | 9 lb 1 oz | — | 1950 | Indian Lake | Oneida | Leon Stefonek |
| Lake Trout | 47 lb | — | 1946 | Lake Superior | Bayfield | Roy Groh |
| Brown Trout | 41 lb 8 oz | 40.6 in | 2010 | Lake Michigan | Racine | Roger Hellen |
| Rainbow Trout | 27 lb 2 oz | — | 1997 | Lake Michigan | Door | Lee Sisson |
| Brook Trout | 9 lb 15 oz | — | 1944 | Prairie River | Lincoln | John Schaffer |
| Channel Catfish | 44 lb | — | 1962 | Wisconsin River | Sauk | David Stuart |
| Flathead Catfish | 74 lb 5 oz | — | 2001 | Wisconsin River | Crawford | Tim Esser |
| Black Crappie | 4 lb 8 oz | — | 1996 | Gile Flowage | Iron | Tom Maines |
| Bluegill | 2 lb 9.8 oz | — | 1995 | Hayes Lake | Walworth | Frank Ott |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lb 4 oz | — | 1954 | Lake Winnebago | Winnebago | C. T. Bub |
| Lake Sturgeon | 170 lb 10 oz | 79 in | 1979 | Yellow Lake | Burnett | Jim DeOtto |
| Pumpkinseed | 1 lb 9 oz | — | 1993 | Pell Lake | Walworth | Eric Kline |
Record Waters with Water-Quality Readings
5 of Wisconsin's record fish came from lakes with nutrient and algae readings on record. See each lake's readings today:
Records by Decade
When each standing Wisconsin record was set — a rough map of the state's trophy-fishing history.
How Wisconsin Records Are Verified
Wisconsin DNR requires that record-eligible fish be weighed on a certified scale, photographed, and verified by a fisheries biologist; some species also recognize catch-and-release length records. Each agency sets its own application form and filing deadline — check the official Wisconsin DNR records page for the current rules before submitting a claim.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking, state record fish in every state, and the Wisconsin lake directory.