Wisconsin State Record Bluegill: 2 lb 9.8 oz
The Wisconsin state record bluegill weighed 2 lb 9.8 oz. It was caught in 1995 from Hayes Lake in Walworth County by Frank Ott, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 31 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Hayes Lake in Walworth 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 Wisconsin lakes we do grade instead.
Bluegill records by state
Wisconsin ranks 10 of 12 among the states in our index for record bluegill. Illinois holds the heaviest at 3 lb 8 oz, set in 1973.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 3 lb 8 oz | 1973 | Farm Pond |
| 2 | Ohio | 3 lb 4 oz | 1990 | Salt Fork Reservoir |
| 3 | Indiana | 3 lb 4 oz | 1972 | Pond |
| 4 | South Dakota | 3 lb 4 oz | 1980 | Stanley County Stock Dam |
| 5 | Iowa | 3 lb 2 oz | 1986 | Farm pond |
| 6 | Missouri | 3 lb | 1963 | Farm Pond |
| 7 | Minnesota | 2 lb 13 oz | 1948 | Alice Lake |
| 8 | Michigan | 2 lb 12 oz | 1983 | Vaughn Lake |
| 9 | North Dakota | 2 lb 12 oz | 1963 | Strawberry Lake |
| 10 | Wisconsin (this page) | 2 lb 9.8 oz | 1995 | Hayes Lake |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 2 lb 9 oz | 1983 | Keystone Lake |
| 12 | New York | 2 lb 8 oz | 1992 | Kohlbach 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 Wisconsin
14 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 2 lb 9.8 oz bluegill — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 11 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the bluegill mark dating to 1995.