State record fish: Certified weight

Records

11 popular fish species records now open

Applications now are being accepted so new certified weight records can replace the existing non-certified weight records that were established for these fish species prior to 1980.

  • Black crappie
  • Bluegill
  • Brown bullhead
  • Channel catfish
  • Common carp
  • Flathead catfish
  • Lake trout
  • Northern pike
  • Smallmouth bass
  • Walleye
  • Yellow perch

Yellow bass added

Yellow bass are being established as a new record because the species has dramatically increased in both presence and popularity, particularly in south-central Minnesota.

Fish listed below were weighed on a certified scale and an application was submitted and approved. See the rules section to submit an application for a certified weight record. New records are listed in bold.

Use show entries, search and sort to locate and list record fish

Last update: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 @ 03:21 pm CDT
Fish Lbs. Oz. Inches Girth Place caught County Caught Angler
Bass, Largemouth 8 15 23½ 17½ Auburn Lake Carver 10/3/2005 -
Bass, Rock

Rock bass caught Sept. 24, 2024, on Mille Lacs Lake in Mille Lacs County

2 4 13½ 12½ Mille Lacs Lake Mille Lacs 9/28/2024 Ryan Wells, Minneapolis
Bass, White 4 8 20 16 Vadnais Lake Ramsey 10/10/2016 -
Bass, Yellow

Yellow bass caught May 11, 2024, on Clear Lake in Jackson County

1 8 12,25 - Clear Lake Jackson 5/11/2024 Dennis Dagel, Lakefield
Bluegill

Bluegill caught June 1, 2024, on Osakis Lake in Todd/Dougals counties

1 13 11.25 - Oasakis Lake Todd/Douglas 6/1/2024 Nick Rydell, Starbuck
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, Smallmouth 20 0 32 23¾ Big Sandy Aitkin 9/20/2003 -
Bullhead, Black 3 13 17⅛ 14⅞ Reno Lake Pope 6/8/1997 -
Bullhead, Yellow 3 10 17⅞ 11¾ Lake Osakis Todd 8/5/2002 -
Burbot (Eelpout) 19 10 33 23⅞ Lake of the Woods; near Baudette Lake of the 12/19/2016 -
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 -
Cisco (Tullibee) 5 13 20¾ 16¾ Sybil Lake Otter Tail 3/9/2015 -
Crappie, Black

Black crappie caught Oct. 29, 2024, on Cedar Lake in Rice County

3 13 18 - Cedar Lake Rice 10/29/2024 Axel Angelow, Faribault
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 -
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 -
Goldeye 3 5 20 ⅔ 13½ Minnesota River Blue Earth 5/3/2020 -
Hogsucker, Northern 3 4 18½ 9 Mississippi River near St. Cloud Stearns 5/3/2023 -
Mooneye

Mooneye caught June 1, 2024, on Osakis Lake in Todd/Dougals counties

2 1 18 - Wabasha Creek Redwood 5/11/2024 Robert Tufts II, Franklin
Muskellunge 55 14 57¾ 29 Mille Lacs Lake Mille Lacs 11/22/2021 -
Muskellunge, Tiger 34 12 51 22½ Lake Elmo Washington 7/7/1999 -
Redhorse, Golden 4 8 22½ 12¾ Otter Tail River Otter Tail 4/7/2018 -
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, Atlantic 12 13 35½ 16½ Baptism River Lake 10/12/1991 -
Salmon, Chinook - Tie 33 4 44¾ 25¾ Poplar River Cook 9/23/1989 -
Salmon, Chinook - Tie 33 4 42¼ 26⅛ Lake Superior St. Louis 10/12/1989 -
Salmon, Coho

Coho Salmon caught June 1, 2024, in Lake Superior

12 5 33.75 - Lake Superior St. Louis 6/1/2024 Austin Stoltenburg, Iron
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 Hybrid 9 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, 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, Green 1 4 10¼ 10⅝ North Arbor Lake Hennepin 6/14/2005 -
Sunfish, Hybrid-Tie 1 12 11½ 12 Zumbro River Olmsted 7/9/1994 -
Sunfish, Hybrid-Tie 1 12 12 13 Green Lake Kandiyohi 9/18/2022 -
Sunfish, Pumpkinseed 1 5 10 12⅛ Leech Lake Cass 6/6/1999 -
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, 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 -
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 -

Rules

Download, review, save and print the complete rules and application package before you go fishing.

If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, follow these steps:

  • To ensure your catch qualifies:

    1. For a certified weight record that exists, find and review the listing in the table above for the fish you caught.

    2. For a new record for yellow bass or one of the existing 11 fish species records that have been re-opened, .

      Fish

      Minimum weight

      Black crappie

      2.5 lbs.

      Bluegill

      1.5 lbs.

      Brown bullhead

      3 lbs.

      Channel catfish

      30 lbs.

      Common Carp

      30 lbs.

      Flathead catfish

      58 lbs.

      Lake trout

      13 lbs.

      Northern pike

      32 lbs.

      Smallmouth bass

      7 lbs.

      Walleye

      14 lbs.

      Yellow bass

      1 lbs.

      Yellow perch

      1 lbs.

  • Download the certified weight record fish application.

  • Print it and bring it with you to the weighing so it can be signed by a witness.

  • Have the fish weighed on a state-certified scale, which can be found at most bait and butcher shops.

  • An observer must witness the weighing, sign and date your application in the appropriate area.

  • Take the fish and your application to a DNR area fisheries office for positive identification by fisheries biologists.

  • Complete the application, follow the application's detailed instructions on taking photographs and send all application materials to the address listed on the application.

  • Fish may not be caught using any methods other than angling and may not be snagged.
  • Fish caught from any fish hatchery (private, club or government) are not eligible to be considered for a state record.
  • Fish caught on a body of water without a public access are not eligible to be considered for a state record.
  • Fish must be caught during the legal open season and hours in Minnesota waters, including those boundary waters where a Minnesota fishing license is valid, by a person licensed or otherwise legally entitled to angle in Minnesota.
  • Fish must be weighted on a certfied scale, which is available at most bait and butcher shops.
  • Fish must be brought to an area fisheries office for species identfication/verification. Two DNR fisheries biologists must atest to the correct species identity.
  • The girth of the fish, measured around the thickest portion of the body, is desired but optional.
  • Applications must be submited within 90 days of the date on which the fish was caught.

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