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Minnesota › Fishing › State Record Fish Program

State Record Fish Program

Minnesota’s State Record Fish Program generates excitement among anglers, the public and the media! Records are maintained for the species listed in categories below. No additional species or hybrids are currently being added to the state record fish program. State record fish applications and instructions are available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/recordfish. Minimum lengths and weights are established for all open categories (details here). Any incomplete applications will not be accepted. Species identification must be verified by DNR Fisheries staff and must be able to be verified by a scientific key (link available online).

How Do I Submit an Application?

Complete rules for catch-and-release and certified weight record fish submissions and applications are available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/recordfish. To be eligible for a state record, the fish must be caught in a public body of water during open seasons by an angler with a valid angling license. The application must be submitted within 90 days of the catch. Record fish submissions must include photographs or video of the fish, with clear identification of species characteristics. Photographs or video must show the full length of the fish on or next to a clearly marked measuring device, with the snout of the fish on zero and the tail pinched for accurate measurement, and the weight measured on a certified scale (found at most shipping stores and grocery stores). Catch-and-release record submissions should also include photos or video of the fish being released unharmed. Harvested fish must be brought to a DNR Fisheries office for species confirmation (locations are listed on the DNR website). DNR does not keep line class records.

Catch-and-Release Records

The following is a complete list of Minnesota’s state record catch-and-release fish, including lake (county) where the fish was caught and released unharmed. Lengths are listed in inches. New catch-and-release record submissions must meet minimum length requirements listed on the website at mndnr.gov/recordfish.

  • Bass, Largemouth: Open record
  • Bass, Smallmouth: 22.", Basswood Lake (Lake)
  • Bowfin: Open record
  • Buffalo, Bigmouth: Open record
  • Buffalo, Smallmouth: Open record
  • Catfish, Channel: Open record
  • Catfish, Flathead: 52.", St. Croix River (Washington)
  • Drum, Freshwater (Sheepshead): Open record
  • Gar, Shortnose: Open record
  • Gar, Longnose: 51", Mississippi River (Houston)
  • Muskellunge: 58.", Mille Lacs Lake (Mille Lacs)
  • Muskellunge, Tiger: Open record
  • Northern Pike: 46.", Basswood Lake (Lake)
  • Sauger: Open record
  • Sturgeon, Lake: 78", St. Croix River (Washington)
  • Sturgeon, Shovelnose: 35", Minnesota River (Scott)
  • Sucker, Blue: Open record
  • Trout, Brook: Open record
  • Trout, Brown: 30", Lake Superior (St. Louis)
  • Trout, Lake: 42.", Lake Superior (St. Louis)
  • Trout, Rainbow: Open record
  • Walleye: Open record

Certified Weight Records

The following is a complete list of Minnesota’s state record certified weight fish and the lake (county) where they were caught and harvested. Weights given are in pounds and ounces (example: 55-5 is 55 pounds, 5 ounces). Certified weight submissions must meet minimum length requirements listed on the website at mndnr.gov/recordfish.

Record established without weight documented on a certified scale (most prior to 1980) have been moved to the non-certified weight category.

  • Bass, Largemouth: 8-15, Auburn Lake (Carver)
  • Bass, Rock: 2-4, Mille Lacs Lake (Mille Lacs)
  • Bass, Smallmouth: open record
  • Bass, White: 4-8, Vadnais Lake (Ramsey)
  • Bass, Yellow: 1-3, Clear Lake (Jackson)
  • Bowfin: 12-9, Mississippi River (Wabasha)
  • Buffalo, Bigmouth: 41-11, Mississippi River (Goodhue)
  • Buffalo, Smallmouth: 20-0, Big Sandy (Aitkin)
  • Bullhead, Black: 3-13, Reno Lake (Pope)
  • Bullhead, Brown: open record
  • Bullhead, Yellow: 3-10, Osakis Lake (Todd)
  • Burbot (eelpout): 19-10, Lake of the Woods (Lake of the Woods)
  • Carp, Common: open record
  • Carpsucker, Quillback: 7-4, Upper Red Lake (Beltrami)
  • Carpsucker, River: 4-6, Minnesota River (Carver)
  • Catfish, Channel: open record
  • Catfish, Flathead: open record
  • Cisco (Tullibee): 5-13, Sybil Lake (Otter Tail)
  • Crappie, Black: 3-13, Cedar Lake (Rice)
  • Crappie, White: 3-15, Lake Constance (Wright)
  • Drum, Freshwater (Sheepshead): 35-3, Mississippi River (Winona)
  • Gar, Longnose: 16-12, St. Croix River (Washington)
  • Gar, Shortnose: 5-4, Minnesota River (Renville)
  • Goldeye: 3-5, Minnesota River (Blue Earth)
  • Hogsucker, Northern: 3-4, Mississippi River (Stearns)
  • Mooneye: 2-1, Minnesota River (Redwood)
  • Muskellunge: 55-14, Mille Lacs Lake (Mille Lacs)
  • Muskellunge, Tiger: 34-12, Lake Elmo (Washington)
  • Perch, Yellow: open record
  • Pike, Northern: open record
  • Redhorse, Golden: 4-8, Otter Tail River (Otter Tail)
  • Redhorse, Greater: 12-11, Sauk River (Stearns)
  • Redhorse, River: 12-10, Kettle River (Pine)
  • Redhorse, Shorthead: 7-15, Rum River (Anoka)
  • Redhorse, Silver: 10-6, Rainy River (Lake of the Woods)
  • Salmon, Atlantic: 12-13, Baptism River (Lake)
  • Salmon, Chinook: 33-4, Poplar River (Cook); and 33-4, Lake Superior (St. Louis)
  • Salmon, Coho: 12-5, Lake Superior (St. Louis)
  • Salmon, Kokanee: 2-15, Caribou Lake (Itasca)
  • Salmon, Pink: 4-8, Cascade River (Cook)
  • State Record Fish Program 93
  • Sauger: 6-2, Mississippi River (Goodhue)
  • Saugeye (Walleye-Sauger Hybrid): 9-13, Mississippi River (Goodhue)
  • Sturgeon, Lake: 94-4, Kettle River (Pine)
  • Sturgeon, Shovelnose: 6-7, Mississippi River (Goodhue)
  • Sucker, Longnose: 3-10, Brule River (Cook)
  • Sucker, White: 9-1, Big Fish Lake (Stearns)
  • Sunfish, Bluegill: 1-13, Osakis Lake (Todd/Douglas)
  • Sunfish, Green: 1-4, North Arbor Lake (Hennepin)
  • Sunfish, Hybrid: 1-12, Zumbro River (Olmsted); and 1-12, Green Lake (Kandiyohi)
  • Sunfish, Pumpkinseed: 1-5, Leech Lake (Cass)
  • Trout, Brook: 6-5, Pigeon River (Cook)
  • Trout, Brown: 16-12, Lake Superior (St. Louis)
  • Trout, Lake: open record
  • Trout, Rainbow (Steelhead): 16-6, Devil Track River (Cook)
  • Trout, Splake: 13-5, Larson Lake (Itasca)
  • Trout, Tiger: 2-9, Mill Creek (Olmsted)
  • Walleye: open record
  • Warmouth: 0-9, Bartlet Lake (Winona)
  • Whitefish, Lake: 13-9, Lake of the Woods (Roseau)
  • Whitefish, Round (Menominee): 2-7, Lake Superior (Cook)

Non-Certified Weight Records

Prior to 1980, record fish submissions did not require weight to be documented on a certified scale. DNR continues to recognize these fish in a separate non-certified weight category until the record is beaten. The following is a complete list of Minnesota’s state record non-certified weight fish and the lake (county) where they were caught and harvested. Weights given are in pounds and ounces (example: 55-5 is 55 pounds, 5 ounces).

  • Bass, Smallmouth: 8-0, West Battle Lake (Otter Tail). Non-certified record.
  • Bullhead, Brown: 7-1, Shallow Lake (Itasca). Non-certified record.
  • Carp, Common: 55-5, Clearwater Lake (Wright). Non-certified record.
  • Catfish, Channel: 38-0, Mississippi River (Hennepin). Non-certified record.
  • Catfish, Flathead: 70-0, St. Croix River (Washington). Non-certified record.
  • Perch, Yellow: 3-4, Lake Plantagenet (Hubbard). Non-certified record.
  • Pike, Northern: 45-12, Basswood Lake (Lake). Non-certified record.
  • Trout, Lake: 43-8, Lake Superior (Cook). Non-certified record.
  • Walleye: 17-8, Seagull River (Cook). Non-certified record.
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