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, northern pike, 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 four species: muskellunge, northern pike, 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, northern pike, 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: 78 inches
- Girth: 29½
- Caught: Feb. 9, 2019
- Place: St. Croix River
- County: Washington
- Angler: Darren Troseth, Jordan
- 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.
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 13 24 13¼ Otter Tail River Otter Tail 3/24/2019 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 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