When you catch a big fish, no matter what the species, it is always a thrill, and it usually requires exceptional fishing skill. The Minnesota DNR honors any angler who breaks a state record.
There are two kinds of Minnesota state records: One for catching and keeping the biggest fish in each species based on certified weight; and the other for the length of a caught-and-released muskellunge, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish.
Catch-and-release length
With the increased popularity of catch and release fishing and higher minimum lengths, many anglers are reluctant to harvest record-weight fish. To address this concern, DNR has created a record program for catch-and-release length for three species: muskellunge, lake sturgeon and flathead catfish.
This program is being cross-promoted with the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame's Master Angler Program, which recognizes 60 fish species. We hope that anglers will consider this new program if they catch a large muskie, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish.
To enter, submit this application.
Choose a fish species to learn more about the record fish and angler. Click on images to enlarge.
- Flathead catfish
- Length: 52½ inches
- Girth: 32 inches
- Caught: Aug. 2, 2017
- Place: St. Croix River
- County: Washington
- Angler: Mark Mosby, St. Anthony
- Muskellunge
- Length: 56⅞ inches
- Girth: 25½ inches
- Caught: June 25, 2016
- Place: Pelican Lake
- County: Otter Tail
- Angler: Andrew Slette, Hawley
- Lake sturgeon
- Length: 73 inches
- Girth: 30 inches
- Caught: May 4, 2018
- Place: Rainy River
- County: Koochiching
- Angler: Jack Burke, Stillwater
- Northern pike
- Length: 45¼ inches
- Girth: Not provided
- Caught: May 6, 2018
- Place: Rainy River
- County: Lake Of The Woods
- Angler: Matthew Swanson, Woodbury
- To enter
Submit this application.
- Information
With the increased popularity of catch and release fishing and higher minimum lengths, many anglers are reluctant to harvest record-weight fish. To address this concern, DNR has created a record program for catch-and-release length for three species: muskellunge, lake sturgeon and flathead catfish.
This program is being cross-promoted with the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame's Master Angler Program, which recognizes 60 fish species. We hope that anglers will consider this new program if they catch a large muskie, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish.
Certified weight
If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, follow these steps:
- Weigh the fish on a state-certified scale (found at most bait shops and butcher shops), witnessed by two observers.
- Take the fish to a DNR fisheries office for positive identification and a state record fish application.
- Complete the State Record Fish submission form and send it along with a clear, full-length photo of your fish to the address listed on the form.
- Certified weight table
Select desired species and scroll through the table to view records. Lengths and girths are measured in inches
Slide text left for complete information
- Bass - burbot
Common name Lbs. Oz. Length Girth Place County Caught Bass, Largemouth 8 15 23½ 17½ Auburn Lake Carver 10/3/2005 Bass, Rock Tie 2 0 13½ 12½ Lake Osakis Todd 5/10/1998 Bass, Rock Tie 2 0 12½ 12⅜ Lake Winnibigoshish Cass 8/30/2004 Bass, Smallmouth 8 0 Unknown Unknown West Battle Lake Otter Tail 1948 Bass, White 4 8 20 16 Vadnais Lake Ramsey 10/1/0/2016 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, Black 20 0 34⅛ 20 Minnesota River Nicollet 6/26/1997 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, Brown 7 1 24⅜ Unknown Shallow Lake Itasca 5/21/1974 Bullhead, Yellow 3 10 17⅞ 11¾ Lake Osakis Todd 8/5/2002 Burbot (Eelpout) 19 10 33 23⅞ Lake of the Woods
near BaudetteLake of the
Woods12/19/16 - Carp - gar
Common name Lbs. Oz. Length Girth Place County Caught Carp, Common 55 5 42 31 Clearwater Lake Wright 7/10/1952 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 Catfish, Channel 38 0 44 Unknown Mississippi River Hennepin 2/16/1975 Catfish, Flathead 70 0 Unknown Unknown St. Croix River Washington 1970 Crappie, Black 5 0 21 Unknown Vermillion River Dakota 1940 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 Eel, American 6 9 42 14 St. Croix River near Stillwater Washington 8/8/1997 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 - Hogsucker - redhorse
Common name Lbs. Oz. Length Girth Place County Caught Hogsucker, Northern 1 15 14¼ 7⅛ Sunrise River near Sunrise Chisago 8/16/1982 Mooneye 1 15 16½ 9¾ Minnesota River Redwood 6/18/1980 Mooneye, Goldeye 2 13 20 11½ Root River near Hokah Houston 6/10/2001 Muskellunge 54 0 56 27¾ Lake Winnibigoshish Itasca 1957 Muskellunge, Tiger 34 12 51 22½ Lake Elmo Washington 7/7/1999 Perch, Yellow 3 4 Unknown Unknown Lake Plantagenet Hubbard 1945 Pike, Northern 45 12 Unknown Unknown Basswood Lake Lake 5/16/1929 Redhorse, Golden 4 7 21 12½ Root River Fillmore 5/13/17 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 - sunfish
Common name Lbs. Oz. Length Girth Place County Caught Salmon, Atlantic 12 13 35½ 16½ Baptism River Lake 10/12/1991 Salmon, Chinook -
(King) Tie33 4 44¾ 25¾ Poplar River Cook 9/23/1989 Salmon, Chinook -
(King) Tie33 4 42¼ 26⅛ Lake Superior St. Louis 10/12/1989 Salmon, Coho 10 6 27⅜ Unknown Lake Superior near
Baptism RiverLake 11/7/1970 Salmon, Kokanee 2 15 20 11½ Caribou Lake Itasca 8/6/1971 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 Hybrid9 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, Blue 14 3 30⅜ 20¼ Mississippi River near Alma Wabasha 2/28/1987 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, Bluegill 2 13 Unknown Unknown Alice Lake Hubbard 1948 Sunfish, Green 1 4 10¼ 10⅝ North Arbor Lake Hennepin 6/14/2005 Sunfish, Hybrid
(Bluegill X Green Sunfish)1 12 11½ 12 Middle Branch of the
Zumbro RiverOlmsted 7/9/1994 Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 1 5 10 12⅛ Leech Lake Cass 6/6/1999 - Trout - whitefish
Common name Lbs. Oz. Length Girth Place County Caught 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, Lake 43 8 Unknown Unknown Lake Superior near Hovland Cook 5/30/1955 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 Tullibee (Cisco) 5 13 20¾ 16¾ Sybil Lake Otter Tail 3/9/2015 Walleye 17 8 35¾ 21¼ Seagull River at Saganaga Lake Cook 5/13/1979 Warmouth 0 9 8¾ 8 Pool 6 Bartlet Lake Winona 12/23/2011 Whitefish, Lake 12 4 28½ 20 Leech Lake near Walker Cass 3/21/1999 Whitefish, Menominee
(Round)2 7 21 9 Lake Superior Cook 4/27/1987