Lake Record Fish Program

What is the biggest fish you’ve ever caught? A seven-pound largemouth, a two-pound crappie or a 45-pound blue catfish? While your fish may not have broken a state record, it could very possibly be the biggest fish ever caught out of your favorite lake. The Lake Record fish program was established to recognize big fish and the lakes where they are caught.

Been to the lake lately? You might have caught a lake record!

The Lake Record Program continues to grow, as more and more anglers find themselves holding a fish that qualifies for a lake record. From lakes large and small, from one side of the state to the other, the Lake Records program recognizes anglers who land a fish that is a record for their lake.

Once an angler catches a fish that might qualify as a lake record, he or she must have their catch certified at a Lake Record Keeper location. For a full list of record keepers, visit our web site, wildlifedepartment.com/fishing.htm

The minimum weights to qualify your catch in the lake record program must be larger than a 6 lb. largemouth bass; 4 lb. smallmouth bass; 2 lb. spotted bass; 2 lb. crappie; 15 lb. channel catfish; 40 lb. blue or flathead catfish; 3 lb. white bass; 20 lb. striped bass; 8 lb. hybrid; 5 lb. walleye/saugeye; 1 lb. sunfish or a 40 lb. paddlefish.

Featured Angler

Maysa and her twin sister, Myka were practicing for an upcoming kid’s fishing tournament. The girls and their family were trolling crankbaits in the Carson Creek area of Broken Bow Lake. The girls had already caught several nice fish including walleye, crappie and sand bass when the big one hit. At first they thought they snagged a good-sized sand bass because the fish was fighting pretty well. When Maysa finally got the fish to the boat and in the net, everyone was amazed at the size of it. Her father told her, “That’s the biggest sunfish I’ve ever seen!”

He placed the fish in the livewell and they continued fishing. The girls went on to catch more fish, including some nice bass. When leaving the lake it occurred to Maysa’s Dad that this fish might be a lake record. The family stopped at Frontier General Store to check the current record for sunfish and found out there had never been one checked in. The workers at the store were very excited and eager to help. Since the fish was a record, Maysa’s parents decided to have it mounted for her.

Her father said, “The lake record program is a great way to acknowl-edge anglers’ accomplishments and to promote tourism and recreation and I would like to thank the ODWC for starting it.”