Wisconsin State Record Fish (2026)
All 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.
Heaviest
Lake Sturgeon
170 lb 10 oz · 1979
Oldest record
Walleye
1933 · High Lake
Most recent record
Brown Trout
2010 · Lake Michigan
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 |
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. Catch-and-release length records are accepted for some species. Submit a record application within 30 days of the catch.
Targeting a record? Many of these fish came from waters with strong populations of trophy-class fish — see the best fishing lakes ranking and Wisconsin lake directory.
Records compiled from the official Wisconsin DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are submitted year-round; check the source page for the most recent verified entries. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Wisconsin DNR.