Where was the Wisconsin record northern pike caught?

Lake Puckaway, in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. Lake Puckaway carries a Grade C water-quality score in our index today.

How long has the Wisconsin northern pike record stood?

74 years. The record was set in 1952 and remains the standing Wisconsin mark as of 2026.

Which state has the biggest record northern pike?

Of the 12 states in our index with a northern pike record, New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz (1940). Wisconsin ranks 4 of 12 at 38 lb.

Wisconsin State Record Northern Pike: 38 lb

Q: What is the Wisconsin state record northern pike?

The Wisconsin state record northern pike weighed 38 lb. It was caught in 1952 from Lake Puckaway in Green Lake County by F. P. Schulenburg, and is recognized by the Wisconsin DNR.

The Wisconsin state record northern pike weighed 38 lb. It was caught in 1952 from Lake Puckaway in Green Lake County by F. P. Schulenburg, and the Wisconsin DNR still recognizes it as the state mark 74 years later.

Weight

38 lb

Length

Not recorded

Year set

1952

74 years standing

Water

Lake Puckaway

Green Lake County

Where the record came from

Lake Puckaway is one of the Wisconsin lakes we grade. It holds a Grade C water-quality score today, based on clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples from the EPA Water Quality Portal — a useful check on whether the water that produced a record fish still fishes well.

CLake Puckaway — Green Lake County, WI. See the full water-quality report →

Northern Pike records by state

Wisconsin ranks 4 of 12 among the states in our index for record northern pike. New York holds the heaviest at 46 lb 2 oz, set in 1940.

#	State	Weight	Year	Water
1	New York	46 lb 2 oz	1940	Great Sacandaga Lake
2	Minnesota	45 lb 12 oz	1929	Basswood Lake
3	Michigan	39 lb	1961	Dodge Lake
4	Wisconsin (this page)	38 lb	1952	Lake Puckaway
5	North Dakota	37 lb 8 oz	1968	Lake Sakakawea
6	South Dakota	36 lb 3 oz	1993	Lake Oahe
7	Pennsylvania	35 lb	2003	Allegheny Reservoir
8	Indiana	30 lb 2 oz	1992	Clear Lake
9	Illinois	26 lb 15 oz	1989	Strip Mine
10	Iowa	25 lb 5 oz	1977	West Okoboji Lake
11	Ohio	22 lb 12 oz	2016	McKarns Lake
12	Missouri	18 lb 9 oz	1975	Stockton Lake

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

6 of Wisconsin's 16 standing records are heavier than the 38 lb northern pike — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 6 Wisconsin records have stood longer, the northern pike mark dating to 1952.

Wisconsin lakes that hold northern pike

924 Wisconsin lakes in our index are documented to hold northern pike, ranked here by water-quality grade.

AGeneva Lake — Walworth County ABig Bass Lake — Washburn County ADeep Lake — Adams County ABeasley Lake — Waupaca County ABass Lake — Washburn County AExplosion Lake — Oconto County AWhite Sand Lake Deep — Vilas County ALake Lucerne — Forest County

All Wisconsin northern pike lakes →

Other Wisconsin records

Muskellunge 69 lb 11 oz 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.