Records
11 popular fish species records now open
Applications now are being accepted so new certified weight records can replace the existing non-certified weight records that were established for these fish species prior to 1980.
- Black crappie
- Bluegill
- Brown bullhead
- Channel catfish
- Common carp
- Flathead catfish
- Lake trout
- Northern pike
- Smallmouth bass
- Walleye
- Yellow perch
Yellow bass added
Yellow bass are being established as a new record because the species has dramatically increased in both presence and popularity, particularly in south-central Minnesota.
Find a record
Fish listed below were weighed on a certified scale and an application was submitted and approved. See the rules section to submit an application for a certified weight record. New records are listed in bold.
Use show entries, search and sort to locate and list record fish
Last update: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 @ 03:21 pm CDT
| Fish | Lbs. | Oz. | Inches | Girth | Place caught | County | Caught | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Largemouth | 8 | 15 | 23½ | 17½ | Auburn Lake | Carver | 10/3/2005 | - |
| Bass, Rock | 2 | 4 | 13½ | 12½ | Mille Lacs Lake | Mille Lacs | 9/28/2024 | Ryan Wells, Minneapolis |
| Bass, White | 4 | 8 | 20 | 16 | Vadnais Lake | Ramsey | 10/10/2016 | - |
| Bass, Yellow | 1 | 8 | 12,25 | - | Clear Lake | Jackson | 5/11/2024 | Dennis Dagel, Lakefield |
| Bluegill | 1 | 13 | 11.25 | - | Oasakis Lake | Todd/Douglas | 6/1/2024 | Nick Rydell, Starbuck |
| Bowfin | 12 | 9 | 31½ | 18 | Mississippi River | Wabasha | 9/14/2012 | - |
| Buffalo, Bigmouth | 41 | 11 | 38⅜ | 29½ | Pool 4 Mississippi River | Goodhue | 5/7/1991 | - |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth | 20 | 0 | 32 | 23¾ | Big Sandy | Aitkin | 9/20/2003 | - |
| Bullhead, Black | 3 | 13 | 17⅛ | 14⅞ | Reno Lake | Pope | 6/8/1997 | - |
| Bullhead, Yellow | 3 | 10 | 17⅞ | 11¾ | Lake Osakis | Todd | 8/5/2002 | - |
| Burbot (Eelpout) | 19 | 10 | 33 | 23⅞ | Lake of the Woods; near Baudette | Lake of the | 12/19/2016 | - |
| Carpsucker, Quillback | 7 | 4 | 22⅝ | 18 | Upper Red Lake | Beltrami | 8/9/2010 | - |
| Carpsucker, River | 4 | 6 | 21⅝ | 16 | Minnesota River | Carver | 11/19/2012 | - |
| Cisco (Tullibee) | 5 | 13 | 20¾ | 16¾ | Sybil Lake | Otter Tail | 3/9/2015 | - |
| Crappie, Black | 3 | 13 | 18 | - | Cedar Lake | Rice | 10/29/2024 | Axel Angelow, Faribault |
| Crappie, White | 3 | 15 | 18 | 16 | Lake Constance | Wright | 7/28/2002 | - |
| Drum, Freshwater (Sheepshead) | 35 | 3 | 36 | 31 | Mississippi River near Winona | Winona | 10/5/1999 | - |
| Gar, Longnose | 16 | 12 | 53 | 16½ | St. Croix River near Prescott | Washington | 5/4/1982 | - |
| Gar, Shortnose | 5 | 4 | 31 | 11¾ | Minnesota River | Renville | 4/17/2017 | - |
| Goldeye | 3 | 5 | 20 ⅔ | 13½ | Minnesota River | Blue Earth | 5/3/2020 | - |
| Hogsucker, Northern | 3 | 4 | 18½ | 9 | Mississippi River near St. Cloud | Stearns | 5/3/2023 | - |
| Mooneye | 2 | 1 | 18 | - | Wabasha Creek | Redwood | 5/11/2024 | Robert Tufts II, Franklin |
| Muskellunge | 55 | 14 | 57¾ | 29 | Mille Lacs Lake | Mille Lacs | 11/22/2021 | - |
| Muskellunge, Tiger | 34 | 12 | 51 | 22½ | Lake Elmo | Washington | 7/7/1999 | - |
| Redhorse, Golden | 4 | 8 | 22½ | 12¾ | Otter Tail River | Otter Tail | 4/7/2018 | - |
| Redhorse, Greater | 12 | 11 | 28½ | 18½ | Sauk River | Stearns | 5/20/2005 | - |
| Redhorse, River | 12 | 10 | 28⅜ | 20 | Kettle River | Pine | 5/20/2005 | - |
| Redhorse, Shorthead | 7 | 15 | 27 | 15 | Rum River near Ramsey | Anoka | 8/5/1983 | - |
| Redhorse, Silver | 10 | 6 | 26¾ | 17½ | Rainy River | Koochiching | 4/28/2018 | - |
| Salmon, Atlantic | 12 | 13 | 35½ | 16½ | Baptism River | Lake | 10/12/1991 | - |
| Salmon, Chinook - Tie | 33 | 4 | 44¾ | 25¾ | Poplar River | Cook | 9/23/1989 | - |
| Salmon, Chinook - Tie | 33 | 4 | 42¼ | 26⅛ | Lake Superior | St. Louis | 10/12/1989 | - |
| Salmon, Coho | 12 | 5 | 33.75 | - | Lake Superior | St. Louis | 6/1/2024 | Austin Stoltenburg, Iron |
| Salmon, Pink | 4 | 8 | 23½ | 13⅛ | Cascade River | Cook | 9/9/1989 | - |
| Sauger | 6 | 2 | 23⅞ | 15 | Mississippi River near Red Wing, (L&D No.3) | Goodhue | 5/23/1988 | - |
| Saugeye,Walleye x Sauger Hybrid | 9 | 13 | 27 | 17¾ | Mississippi River near Red Wing | Goodhue | 3/20/1999 | - |
| Sturgeon, Lake | 94 | 4 | 70 | 26½ | Kettle River | Pine | 9/5/1994 | - |
| Sturgeon, Shovelnose | 6 | 7 | 33 | 13¾ | Mississippi River near Red Wing | Goodhue | 2/19/2012 | - |
| Sucker, Longnose | 3 | 10 | 21 | 10¼ | Brule River | Cook | 5/19/2005 | - |
| Sucker, White | 9 | 1 | 24¼ | 16¼ | Big Fish Lake | Stearns | 5/1/1983 | - |
| Sunfish, Green | 1 | 4 | 10¼ | 10⅝ | North Arbor Lake | Hennepin | 6/14/2005 | - |
| Sunfish, Hybrid-Tie | 1 | 12 | 11½ | 12 | Zumbro River | Olmsted | 7/9/1994 | - |
| Sunfish, Hybrid-Tie | 1 | 12 | 12 | 13 | Green Lake | Kandiyohi | 9/18/2022 | - |
| Sunfish, Pumpkinseed | 1 | 5 | 10 | 12⅛ | Leech Lake | Cass | 6/6/1999 | - |
| Trout, Brook | 6 | 5 | 24 | 14½ | Pigeon River | Cook | 9/2/2000 | - |
| Trout, Brown | 16 | 12 | 31⅜ | 20½ | Lake Superior | St. Louis | 6/23/1989 | - |
| Trout, Rainbow (Steelhead) | 16 | 6 | 33 | 19½ | Devil Track River | Cook | 4/27/1980 | - |
| Trout, Splake, (Brook x Lake Trout Hybrid) | 13 | 5 | 33½ | 19 | Larson Lake | Itasca | 2/11/2001 | - |
| Trout, Tiger | 2 | 9 | 20 | 9⅝ | Mill Creek | Olmsted | 8/7/1999 | - |
| Whitefish, Lake | 13 | 9 | 29½ | 22 | Lake of the Woods | Lake of the Woods | 4/6/2019 | - |
| Whitefish, Menominee, (Round) | 2 | 7 | 21 | 9 | Lake Superior | Cook | 4/27/1987 | - |
Rules
Download, review, save and print the complete rules and application package before you go fishing.
If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, follow these steps:
To ensure your catch qualifies:
For a certified weight record that exists, find and review the listing in the table above for the fish you caught.
For a new record for yellow bass or one of the existing 11 fish species records that have been re-opened, review the minimum weights for new submissions.
Fish
Minimum weight
Black crappie
2.5 lbs.
Bluegill
1.5 lbs.
Brown bullhead
3 lbs.
Channel catfish
30 lbs.
Common Carp
30 lbs.
Flathead catfish
58 lbs.
Lake trout
13 lbs.
Northern pike
32 lbs.
Smallmouth bass
7 lbs.
Walleye
14 lbs.
Yellow bass
1 lbs.
Yellow perch
1 lbs.
Print it and bring it with you to the weighing so it can be signed by a witness.
Have the fish weighed on a state-certified scale, which can be found at most bait and butcher shops.
An observer must witness the weighing, sign and date your application in the appropriate area.
Take the fish and your application to a DNR area fisheries office for positive identification by fisheries biologists.
Complete the application, follow the application's detailed instructions on taking photographs and send all application materials to the address listed on the application.
- Fish may not be caught using any methods other than angling and may not be snagged.
- Fish caught from any fish hatchery (private, club or government) are not eligible to be considered for a state record.
- Fish caught on a body of water without a public access are not eligible to be considered for a state record.
- Fish must be caught during the legal open season and hours in Minnesota waters, including those boundary waters where a Minnesota fishing license is valid, by a person licensed or otherwise legally entitled to angle in Minnesota.
- Fish must be weighted on a certfied scale, which is available at most bait and butcher shops.
- Fish must be brought to an area fisheries office for species identfication/verification. Two DNR fisheries biologists must atest to the correct species identity.
- The girth of the fish, measured around the thickest portion of the body, is desired but optional.
- Applications must be submited within 90 days of the date on which the fish was caught.