This article was updated in February 2024.
The following chart lists the current records for game fish caught in Nebraska.
To improve your odds of claiming a new record here, or at least a Master Angler Award and bragging rights over your fishing buddies, look for additional information below the records chart.
| Alewife 3.5 oz | Merritt Reservoir | Joe Dodd Sep 22, 2001 |
| Bass, Largemouth 10 lbs, 11 oz | Sandpit near Columbus | Paul Abegglen Sr. Oct 2, 1965 |
| Bass, Rock 2 lbs, 4 oz | Farm pond, Dundy County | Edna Zuege May 6, 1972 |
| Bass, Smallmouth 7 lbs, 4 oz | Missouri River, Knox County | Dennis Swanson Sep 16, 2000 |
| Bass, Spotted 3 lbs, 12 oz | I-80 sandpit, Lincoln County | Jerry Miller Mar 19, 1990 |
| Bass, Striped 64 lbs, 15 oz | Sutherland Reservoir | Gene Baker Aug 17, 1993 |
| Bass, Striped Hybrid 21 lbs, 9 oz | Lake McConaughy | Tou Kong Yang Jun 14, 2020 |
| Bass, White 5 lbs | Gavins Point Tailwaters | Jim Kilcoin Nov 12, 1983 |
| Bass, Yellow 1 lbs, 9 oz | Summit Reservoir | Levi Kieckhafer Jan 2, 2022 |
| Bowfin 8 lbs | Dead Timber Lake | Ronald Evenson Aug 7, 1982 |
| Buffalo, Bigmouth 64 lbs | Sandpit, Dodge County | Joe Slavic Jun 8, 2000 |
| Buffalo, Black 41 lbs | Carter Lake | Bob Eaton, Apr 29, 1982 |
| Buffalo, Smallmouth 56 lbs, 3 oz | Fremont Lake #20 | Jeffrey Johnson Jun 3, 1998 |
| Bullhead, Black 3 lbs, 15 oz | Farm pond, Boyd County | La Verne Heermann Jun 28, 1984 |
| Bullhead, Yellow 2 lbs, 4 oz | Private Pond, Otoe County | Dylan Turner Jun 4, 2016 |
| Burbot 6 lbs, 9 oz | Missouri River, Cedar County | Todd Schmidt Feb 7, 1998 |
| Carp, Bighead 53 lbs, 3 oz | Middle Island Lake | Ryan Othling Aug 8, 2005 |
| Carp, Common 39 lbs, 8 oz | Merritt Reservoir | Chuck Hensel Apr 18, 2023 |
| Carp, Grass 64 lbs | Wilson Creek 2X | Malik Solunovic Aug 29, 2004 |
| Carp, Silver 37 lbs, 6 oz | Private Pitt, Cass County | Keith Bader Jun 17, 2023 |
| Carpsucker, Quillback 13 lbs, 10 oz | Missouri River, Burt County | Patrick Fox Jr. Jun 3, 2001 |
| Carpsucker, River 13 lbs, 4 oz | Sandpit, Cass County | Dennis Hardin Aug 29, 1999 |
| Catfish, Blue 100 lbs, 8 oz | Missouri River, Cedar County | Raynold Promes Nov 29, 1970 |
| Catfish, Channel 41 lbs, 8 oz | Merritt Reservoir | John Cunning Jul 26, 1985 |
| Catfish, Channel 41 lbs, 8 oz | Merritt Reservoir | Heather Cunning Aug 11, 1986 |
| Catfish, Flathead 89 lbs | Missouri River, Nemaha County | Richard L. Hagen Jun 6, 2020 |
| Catfish, Stonecat 5.2 oz | Middle Loup River | Roger Skorniak Jun 20, 1999 |
| Chub, Creek 1 lb, 1 oz | Private Impoundment, Keya Paha County | Kirk Sharp Feb 6, 2022 |
| Chub, Flathead 3 oz | Milburn Diversion Dam | Danal Wilkie Jun 3, 2020 |
| Crappie, Black 4 lbs, 8 oz | Farm pond, Otoe County | Allen Paap Jr. Jun 15, 2003 |
| Crappie, White 4 lbs, 1 oz | Red Willow Reservoir | Elsie Jensen May 18, 1980 |
| Crappie, Triploid 3 lbs, 4 oz | Kea Lake | Brent Stephens Apr 18, 2017 |
| Drum, Freshwater 29 lbs, 6 oz | Missouri River (Gavins Point Tailwaters) | Roque Ramirez Jun 23, 2007 |
| Eel, American 5 lbs | Missouri River | George Sweisberger Aug 2, 1983 |
| Gar, Longnose 23 lbs, 11 oz | Platte River, Sarpy County | Taylor Foral May 11, 2013 |
| Gar, Shortnose 7 lbs, 5 oz | Nemaha River, Richardson County | Jeremy Waggoner Jun 9, 2012 |
| Goldeye 3 lbs, 15.5 oz | Lewis & Clark Lake | Gary Kumm Aug 13, 1988 |
| Goldfish 4 lbs, 3 oz | Halleck Park Pond | Tyler Ciurej Jun 7, 2011 |
| Herring, Skipjack 2 lbs, 14 oz | Missouri River, Cedar County | Alex Weinrich Oct 14, 2016 |
| Muskellunge 41 lbs, 8 oz | Merritt Reservoir | Jared Haddix Aug 9, 1992 |
| Muskellunge, Tiger 33 lbs, 5 oz | Johnson Lake | Andrew Dorsey Apr 15, 2001 |
| Paddlefish 113 lbs, 4 oz | Missouri River (Gavins Point Tailwaters) | Thomas Keller Oct 9, 2015 |
| Perch, Sacramento 2 lbs, 8 oz | Clear Lake | John Bush Jun 20, 1971 |
| Perch, White 2 lbs, 7 oz | Sandpit, Cass County | Mike Case Oct 1, 2023 |
| Perch, Yellow 2 lbs, 10.75 oz | Hackberry Lake | John Skrdla Feb 11, 1984 |
| Pickerel, Grass 10 oz | Borrow Pit, Holt County | Christopher Butts Oct 17, 2016 |
| Pike, Northern 30 lbs, 1 oz | Terry’s Pit | Steven Morris Oct 7, 1997 |
| Rudd, European 3 lb, 3 oz | Box Butte Reservoir | Voradeth Sayaloune May 14, 2013 |
| Salmon, Chinook 7 lbs, 5 oz | Lewis & Clark Lake | James Ludlow Oct 22, 2011 |
| Salmon, Coho 5 lbs, 12 oz | Lake McConaughy | Lyle Fry Jul 3, 1971 |
| Salmon, Kokanee 4 lbs, 2 oz | Lake McConaughy | Neal Dunbar Jul 11, 1971 |
| Sauger 8 lbs, 5 oz | Missouri River | Betty Tepner Oct 22, 1961 |
| Saugeye 8 lbs, 14 oz | Calamus Reservoir | Shawn Ackles May 26, 2003 |
| Shad, Gizzard 4 lbs, 7.75 oz | Box Butte Reservoir | Joe Ringbauer Mar 26, 1989 |
| Shiner, Golden 14 oz | Two Rivers SRA Trout Lake | Tom Rosencrans Apr 10, 1992 |
| Sturgeon, Shovelnose 4 lbs, 8 oz | Missouri River, Cass County | Steve Horan Apr 25, 2012 |
| Sucker, Blue 18 lbs, 14 oz | Missouri River | Bob Thoene Nov 16, 1986 |
| Sucker, Longnose 2 lbs, 7 oz | Sutherland Supply Canal | Brian Moreland Jun 20, 2004 |
| Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse 3 lbs, 8 oz | Missouri River, Knox County | Adam Pavelka Apr 28, 2022 |
| Sucker, White 6 lbs, 1 oz | Box Butte Reservoir | Eric Fuller May 11, 2012 |
| Sunfish, Bluegill 2 lbs, 13 oz | Grove Lake | Gary Ralston Apr 26, 1977 |
| Sunfish, Green 1 lb, 14 oz | Clatonia 3A Reservoir Gage County | Steven Carel Jan 3, 2021 |
| Sunfish, Hybrid 1 lb, 15 oz | Private pond, Holt County | Jana Bottorff-Engh May 30, 1993 |
| Sunfish, Orangespotted 3 oz | Loup River, Platte County | Seth Gutzmer Jun 19, 2008 |
| Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 11.25 oz | Box Butte Reservoir | Mitchell Pebley Mar 19, 1993 |
| Sunfish, Redear 1 lb, 14 oz | Wildwood Lake | Kelly Macke Jan 3, 2017 |
| Trout, Brook 5 lbs, 1 oz | Pawnee Springs | Joe Gray Nov 3, 1965 |
| Trout, Brown 20 lbs, 1 oz | Snake River | Denny Doolittle Jul 26, 1973 |
| Trout, Cutthroat 5 lbs, 7 oz | Lake Ogallala | Arthur Larsen Sep 18, 1992 |
| Trout, Rainbow 14 lbs, 2 oz | NPPD Canal | Frank Aloy Mar 18, 1975 |
| Trout, Tiger 6 lbs, 13 oz | Sutherland Reservoir | Walton Moore Mar 11, 2021 |
| Walleye 16 lbs, 2 oz | Lake McConaughy | Herbert Cutshall Jul 5, 1971 |
How to Set a Fishing Record
Nebraska’s record game fish must be caught by a hook and line by an angler following state fishing regulations (including being licensed if at least 16 years old).
You must follow the instructions to get the catch verified, which for a full state record includes the weight. There also are catch and release awards that require a length and quick release so the fish survives.
Bring a camera (or smart phone) and be aware that you’ll also need witnesses to sign off on the catch.
It would be a good idea to review the full rules and check out the link to the application for more information, so you’re ready when and if the occasion rises.
You’ll find links to everything you’ll need on the Nebraska Game and Parks’ Master Angler Awards page.