Where was the Wisconsin record muskellunge caught?

Chippewa Flowage, in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.

How long has the Wisconsin muskellunge record stood?

77 years. The record was set in 1949 and remains the standing Wisconsin mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record muskellunge?

Of the 12 states in our index with a muskellunge record, New York holds the heaviest at 69 lb 15 oz (1957). Wisconsin ranks 2 of 12 at 69 lb 11 oz.

Wisconsin State Record Muskellunge: 69 lb 11 oz

Q: What is the Wisconsin state record muskellunge?

The Wisconsin state record muskellunge weighed 69 lb 11 oz and measured 63.5 inches. It was caught in 1949 from Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County by Cal Johnson, and is recognized by the Wisconsin DNR.

The Wisconsin state record muskellunge weighed 69 lb 11 oz and measured 63.5 inches. It was caught in 1949 from Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County by Cal Johnson, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 77 years later.

Weight

69 lb 11 oz

Length

63.5 in

Year set

1949

77 years standing

Water

Chippewa Flowage

Sawyer County

Where the record came from

The record came from Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer 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.

Muskellunge records by state

Wisconsin ranks 2 of 12 among the states in our index for record muskellunge. New York holds the heaviest at 69 lb 15 oz, set in 1957.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	New York	69 lb 15 oz	1957	St. Lawrence River
2	Wisconsin (this page)	69 lb 11 oz	1949	Chippewa Flowage
3	Michigan	58 lb	2012	Lake Bellaire
4	Ohio	55 lb 2 oz	1972	Piedmont Lake
5	Pennsylvania	54 lb 3 oz	1924	Conneaut Lake
6	Minnesota	54 lb	1957	Lake Winnibigoshish
7	Iowa	50 lb 6 oz	2000	Spirit Lake
8	North Dakota	46 lb 8 oz	2007	New Johns Lake
9	Indiana	42 lb 8 oz	2002	James Lake
10	Missouri	41 lb 2 oz	1981	Lake of the Ozarks
11	South Dakota	40 lb	1991	Amsden Dam
12	Illinois	38 lb 8 oz	2002	Kaskaskia River

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

2 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 69 lb 11 oz muskellunge — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 4 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the muskellunge mark dating to 1949.

Other Wisconsin records

Northern Pike 38 lb Walleye 18 lb Largemouth Bass 11 lb 3 oz Smallmouth Bass 9 lb 1 oz Lake Trout 47 lb Brown Trout 41 lb 8 oz Rainbow Trout 27 lb 2 oz Brook Trout 9 lb 15 oz Channel Catfish 44 lb Flathead Catfish 74 lb 5 oz Black Crappie 4 lb 8 oz Bluegill 2 lb 9.8 oz Yellow Perch 3 lb 4 oz Lake Sturgeon 170 lb 10 oz Pumpkinseed 1 lb 9 oz

All 16 Wisconsin state records in one table →

Record compiled from the official Wisconsin DNR angling records. Updated 2026. New records are certified year-round — check the agency page before treating any figure here as the current mark. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the Wisconsin DNR.