Updated: February 2024
This article includes current fishing records for a variety of species caught in Minnesota, set into one simple table.
If you’d like to claim your own Minnesota fishing record, be sure to check the resources at the bottom of this article.
Certified Weight Records
This is the main Minnesota fishing records table, which includes a range of sport fish caught and harvested from Minnesota waters.
| Bass, Largemouth 8 lbs, 15 oz | Auburn Lake, Carver County | Oct 3, 2005 |
| Bass, Rock (tie) 2 lbs, 0 oz | Lake Osakis, Todd County | May 10, 1998 |
| Sunfish, Green 1 lb, 4 oz | Lake Winnibigoshish, Cass County | Aug 30, 2004 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 8 lbs, 0 oz | West Battle Lake, Otter Tail County | 1948 |
| Bass, White 4 lbs, 8 oz | Vadnais Lake, Ramsey County | Oct 10, 2016 |
| Bowfin 12 lbs, 9 oz | Mississippi River, Wabasha County | Sep 14, 2012 |
| Buffalo, Bigmouth 41 lbs, 11 oz | Pool 4 Mississippi River, Goodhue County | May 7, 1991 |
| Buffalo, Black 20 lbs, 0 oz | Minnesota River, Nicollet County | Jun 26, 1997 |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth 20 lbs, 0 oz | Big Sandy, Aitkin County | Sep 20, 2003 |
| Burbot (Eelpout) 19 lbs, 10 oz | Lake of the Woods near Baudette, Lake of the Woods County | Dec 19, 2016 |
| Carp, Common 55 lbs, 5 oz | Clearwater Lake, Wright County | Jul 10, 1952 |
| Carpsucker, Quillback 7 lbs, 4 oz | Upper Red Lake, Beltrami County | Aug 9, 2010 |
| Carpsucker, River 4 lbs, 6 oz | Minnesota River, Carver County | Nov 19, 2012 |
| Catfish, Black Bullhead 3 lbs, 13 oz | Reno Lake, Pope County | Jun 8, 1997 |
| Catfish, Brown Bullhead 7 lbs, 1 oz | Shallow Lake, Itasca County | May 21, 1974 |
| Catfish, Channel 38 lbs, 0 oz | Mississippi River, Hennepin County | Feb 16, 1975 |
| Catfish, Flathead 70 lbs, 0 oz | St. Croix River, Washington County | 1970 |
| Catfish, Yellow Bullhead 3 lbs, 10 oz | Lake Osakis, Todd County | Aug 5, 2002 |
| Crappie, Black 5 lbs, 0 oz | Vermillion River, Dakota County | 1940 |
| Crappie, White 3 lbs, 15 oz | Lake Constance, Wright County | Jul 28, 2002 |
| Drum, Freshwater (Sheepshead) 35 lbs, 3 oz | Mississippi River near Winona, Winona County | Oct 5, 1999 |
| Eel, American 6 lbs, 9 oz | St. Croix River near Stillwater, Washington County | Aug 8, 1997 |
| Gar, Longnose 16 lbs, 12 oz | St. Croix River near Prescott, Washington County | May 4, 1982 |
| Gar, Shortnose 5 lbs, 4 oz | Minnesota River, Renville County | Apr 17, 2017 |
| Goldeye 3 lbs, 5 oz | Minnesota River, Blue Earth County | May 3, 2020 |
| Hogsucker, Northern 3 lbs, 4 oz | Mississippi River near St. Cloud, Stearns County | May 3, 2023 |
| Mooneye 1 lb, 15 oz | Minnesota River, Redwood County | Jun 18, 1980 |
| Muskellunge 55 lbs, 14 oz | Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs County | Nov 22, 2021 |
| Muskellunge, Tiger 34 lbs, 12 oz | Lake Elmo, Washington County | Jul 7, 1999 |
| Perch, Yellow 3 lbs, 4 oz | Lake Plantagenet, Hubbard County | 1945 |
| Pike, Northern 45 lbs, 12 oz | Basswood Lake, Lake County | May 16, 1929 |
| Redhorse, Golden 4 lbs, 8 oz | Otter Tail River, Otter Tail County | Apr 7, 2018 |
| Redhorse, Greater 12 lbs, 11 oz | Sauk River, Stearns County | May 20, 2005 |
| Redhorse, River 12 lbs, 10 oz | Kettle River, Pine County | May 20, 2005 |
| Redhorse, Shorthead 7 lbs, 15 oz | Rum River near Ramsey, Anoka County | Aug 5, 1983 |
| Redhorse, Silver 10 lbs, 6 oz | Rainy River, Koochiching County | Apr 28, 2018 |
| Salmon, Atlantic 12 lbs, 13 oz | Baptism River, Lake County | Oct 12, 1991 |
| Salmon, Chinook (King) (tie) 33 lbs, 4 oz | Poplar River, Cook County | Sep 23, 1989 |
| Salmon, Chinook (King) (tie) 33 lbs, 4 oz | Lake Superior, St. Louis County | Oct 12, 1989 |
| Salmon, Coho 10 lbs, 14 oz | Lake Superior, St. Louis County | Sep 4, 2023 |
| Salmon, Kokanee 2 lbs, 15 oz | Caribou Lake, Itasca County | Aug 6, 1971 |
| Salmon, Pink 4 lbs, 8 oz | Cascade River, Cook County | Sep 9, 1989 |
| Sauger 6 lbs, 2 oz | Mississippi River near Red Wing (L&D No.3), Goodhue County | May 23, 1988 |
| Saugeye, (Walleye x Sauger Hybrid) 9 lbs, 13 oz | Mississippi River near Red Wing, Goodhue County | Mar 20, 1999 |
| Sturgeon, Lake 94 lbs, 4 oz | Kettle River, Pine County | Sep 5, 1994 |
| Sturgeon, Shovelnose 6 lbs, 7 oz | Mississippi River near Red Wing, Goodhue County | Feb 19, 2012 |
| Sucker, Blue 14 lbs, 3 oz | Mississippi River near Alma, Wabasha County | Feb 28, 1987 |
| Sucker, Longnose 3 lbs, 10 oz | Brule River, Cook County | May 19, 2005 |
| Sucker, White 9 lbs, 1 oz | Big Fish Lake, Stearns County | May 1, 1983 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill 2 lbs, 13 oz | Alice Lake, Hubbard County | 1948 |
| Sunfish, Green 1 lbs, 4 oz | North Arbor Lake, Hennepin County | Jun 14, 2005 |
| Sunfish, Hybrid (tie) 1 lb, 12 oz | Zumbro River, Olmsted County | Jul 9, 1994 |
| Sunfish, Hybrid (tie) 1 lb, 12 oz | Green Lake, Kandiyohi County | Sep 18, 2022 |
| Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 1 lb, 5 oz | Leech Lake, Cass County | Jun 6, 1999 |
| Trout, Brook 6 lbs, 5 oz | Pigeon River, Cook County | Sep 2, 2000 |
| Trout, Brown 16 lbs, 12 oz | Lake Superior, St. Louis County | Jun 23, 1989 |
| Trout, Lake 43 lbs, 8 oz | Lake Superior near Hovland, Cook County | May 30, 1955 |
| Trout, Rainbow (Steelhead) 16 lbs, 6 oz | Devil Track River, Cook County | Apr 27, 1980 |
| Trout, Splake (Brook x Lake Trout Hybrid) 13 lbs, 5 oz | Larson Lake, Itasca County | Feb 11, 2001 |
| Trout, Tiger 2 lbs, 9 oz | Mill Creek, Olmsted County | Aug 7, 1999 |
| Tullibee (Cisco) 5 lbs, 13 oz | Sybil Lake, Otter Tail County | Mar 9, 2015 |
| Walleye 17 lbs, 8 oz | Seagull River at Saganaga Lake, Cook County | May 13, 1979 |
| Warmouth 0 lb, 9 oz | Pool 6 Bartlet Lake, Winona County | Dec 23, 2011 |
| Whitefish, Lake 13 lbs, 9 oz | Lake of the Woods, Lake of the Woods County | Apr 6, 2019 |
| Whitefish, Menominee (Round) 2 lbs, 7 oz | Lake Superior, Cook County | Apr 27, 1987 |
Catch and Release Records
The following records are for a select few species that anglers are often reluctant to harvest at state-record weights. At this writing, the following four species are eligible for catch-and-release honors.
| Catfish, Flathead 52½ inches | St. Croix River, Washington County | Mark Mosby Aug. 2, 2017 |
| Muskellunge Length: 58¼ inches | Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs County | Eric Bakke June 11, 2022 |
| Pike, Northern (tie) 46¼ inches | Mille Lacs Lake, Aitkin County | Brad Lila Jan. 22, 2023 |
| Pike, Northern (tie) 46¼ inches | Basswood Lake, Lake County | Brecken Kobylecky June 19, 2021 |
| Sturgeon, Lake Length: 78 inches | St. Croix River, Washington County | Darren Troseth Feb. 9, 2019 |
Setting a Minnesota Fishing Record
You will find the rules and the submission form (application) to claim your own state record on the Minnesota DNR’s State Record Fish Programs page.