Record fish caught in North Dakota

Written by:
October 21, 2022
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Record fish caught in North Dakota

Anglers the world over gather regularly for fishing derbies to see who can land the biggest catch. But record-breaking fish can be caught at anytime, weighed on an International Game Fish Association-certified scale at any number of tackle shops or marinas, and compared to the IGFA's online records database. Sport-fishing enthusiasts can even have their own scales certified by the IGFA for a $40 fee.

Stacker compiled a list of record fish caught in North Dakota using data from Land Big Fish. Fish pictured are not the actual record catch. Keep reading to see which bodies of water in your state hold some of the most massive fish around.

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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Bluegill Sunfish

- Weight: 2 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Strawberry Lake
- Record set by B. Hystad in 1963
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Brown Trout

- Weight: 31 lbs 11 oz
- Location: Garrison Tailrace
- Record set by Tim Johansen in 2005
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Eden, Janine and Jim // Wikimedia Commons

Buffalo

- Weight: 54 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 42"
- Location: Heart Butte Tailrace
- Record set by Keith Huschka in 2011
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WH_Pics // Shutterstock

Bullhead

- Weight: 4 lbs 1 oz
- Location: Devils lake
- Record set by Riley Zavada in 1988
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Carp

- Weight: 26 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Red River
- Record set by Paul Haugen in 1995
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Aleron Val // Shutterstock

Channel Catfish

- Weight: 42 lbs 1 oz
- Length: 40 ""
- Location: Moon Lake
- Record set by Tina Willis in 2009
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Kevin Cass // Shutterstock

Chinook (King) Salmon

- Weight: 31 lbs 2 oz
- Location: Garrison Tailrace
- Record set by Tom Schwartz in 1986
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Michaela Holubova // Shutterstock

Cisco

- Weight: 2 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Sakakawea
- Record set by Scott Borup Jr. in 2000
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Crappie

- Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Don Newcomb in 1998
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock

Cutthroat Trout

- Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Garrison Tailrace
- Record set by Rod Sabot in 2001
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Roxana Gonzalez // Shutterstock

Drum

- Weight: 26 lbs 2 oz
- Location: Lake Sakakawea
- Record set by Larry Harris in 1988
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Flathead Catfish

- Weight: 29 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Heart River
- Record set by Kenneth Klein in 1985
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Commons

Goldeye

- Weight: 3 lbs 13 oz
- Location: New Johns Lake
- Record set by Craig Unser in 1998
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Pi-Lens // Shutterstock

Lake Trout

- Weight: 16 lbs 6 oz
- Length: 33"
- Location: Garrison Dam Tailrace
- Record set by Royce (Pete) Johnston in 2012
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Pierre Rebollar // Shutterstock

Largemouth Bass

- Weight: 8 lbs 7.5 oz
- Location: Nelson Lake
- Record set by Leon Rixen in 1983
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MPH Photos // Shutterstock

Ling Cod

- Weight: 18 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Knife River
- Record set by O. Kruckenberg in 1984
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Muskellunge

- Weight: 46 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 54 ""
- Location: GDU Canal Lakes
- Record set by Cory Bosch in 2007
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FedBul // Shutterstock

Northern Pike

- Weight: 37 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Sakakawea
- Record set by M. Slind in 1968
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Saran Jantraurai // Shutterstock

Paddlefish

- Weight: 130 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 74"
- Location: Upper Missouri River
- Record set by Alex Mergen in 2010
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Rainbow Trout

- Weight: 21 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Garrison Tailrace
- Record set by Wade Weltz in 1998
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Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock

Sauger

- Weight: 8 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Lake Sakakawea
- Record set by M. Fischer in 1971
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RLS Photo // Shutterstock

Saugeye

- Weight: 11 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Lake Sakakawea
- Record set by David Groth in 1984
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock

Smallmouth Bass

- Weight: 6 lbs 13 oz
- Length: 19 ""
- Location: Lake Darling
- Record set by Bruce Elberg in 2007
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock

Striped Bass

- Weight: 20 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Devils lake
- Record set by Stephen Renault in 1993
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock

Tiger Muskellunge

- Weight: 40 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Gravel Lake
- Record set by Marvin Lee in 1975
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wwwarjag //Shutterstock

Walleye

- Weight: 15 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Wood Lake
- Record set by B. Chapman in 1959
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock

White Bass

- Weight: 4 lbs 10 oz
- Length: 19"
- Location: Devils lake
- Record set by Charlie Vang in 2012
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Whitefish

- Weight: 8 lbs 11 oz
- Location: Garrison Tailrace
- Record set by Bill Mitzel in 1984
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John Piekos // Shutterstock

Yellow Perch

- Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Devils lake
- Record set by Kyle Smith in 1982

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