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Record fish caught in South 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 South 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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American Eel
- Weight: 5 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Velma Weverstad in 1969
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Velma Weverstad in 1969
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/49bigmouthZ20U.png)
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Alus164 // Wikimedia Commons
Bigmouth Buffalo
- Weight: 51 lbs 9 oz
- Location: Mitchell Lake
- Record set by Reg Young in 1993
- Location: Mitchell Lake
- Record set by Reg Young in 1993
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock
Black Bullhead
- Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Lake Poinsett
- Record set by Adam Arendsee in 2009
- Location: Lake Poinsett
- Record set by Adam Arendsee in 2009
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Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock
Black Crappie
- Weight: 3 lbs 8 oz
- Location: SDSU pond
- Record set by Benjamin Wight in 2004
- Location: SDSU pond
- Record set by Benjamin Wight in 2004
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M Huston // Shutterstock
Blue Catfish
- Weight: 99 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Big Sioux River
- Record set by Steve Lemmon in 2012
- Location: Big Sioux River
- Record set by Steve Lemmon in 2012
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Spencer Neuharth / USFWS // Wikimedia Commons
Blue Sucker
- Weight: 12 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Ft. Randall Tailrace
- Record set by Larry Peters in 1988
- Location: Ft. Randall Tailrace
- Record set by Larry Peters in 1988
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock
Bluegill Sunfish
- Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Stock Dam
- Record set by Scott Sanner in 1980
- Location: Stock Dam
- Record set by Scott Sanner in 1980
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock
Brook Trout
- Weight: 11 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Deerfield Lake
- Record set by Ryan Rempfer in 2007
- Location: Deerfield Lake
- Record set by Ryan Rempfer in 2007
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock
Brown Bullhead
- Weight: 3 lbs 11 oz
- Location: Big Stone Lake
- Record set by Mike Piechowski in 1993
- Location: Big Stone Lake
- Record set by Mike Piechowski in 1993
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/0700575NZ.jpg)
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock
Brown Trout
- Weight: 24 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Canyon Lake
- Record set by Wilfred H. Huether in 1990
- Location: Canyon Lake
- Record set by Wilfred H. Huether in 1990
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Neon_TI // Shutterstock
Burbot
- Weight: 12 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Norman Sheldon in 1974
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Norman Sheldon in 1974
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/040055BNBQ.jpg)
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Aleron Val // Shutterstock
Channel Catfish
- Weight: 55 lbs 0 oz
- Location: James River
- Record set by Roy Groves in 1949
- Location: James River
- Record set by Roy Groves in 1949
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Kevin Cass // Shutterstock
Chinook (King) Salmon
- Weight: 23 lbs 14 oz
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Keith West in 2003
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Keith West in 2003
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Michaela Holubova // Shutterstock
Cisco
- Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Lee Delo in 1999
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Lee Delo in 1999
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/3204AA4.jpg)
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Troutnut // Shutterstock
Coho Salmon
- Weight: 3 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Barbara Poaches in 1974
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Barbara Poaches in 1974
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Vladimir Wrangel // Shutterstock
Common Carp
- Weight: 37 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Waubay Lake
- Record set by Stephen Wood in 2012
- Location: Waubay Lake
- Record set by Stephen Wood in 2012
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock
Cutthroat Trout
- Weight: 6 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Rapid Creek
- Record set by Dick Rossum in 1989
- Location: Rapid Creek
- Record set by Dick Rossum in 1989
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M Huston // Shutterstock
Flathead Catfish
- Weight: 60 lbs 8 oz
- Location: James River
- Record set by Roger Adam in 2004
- Location: James River
- Record set by Roger Adam in 2004
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Roxana Gonzalez // Shutterstock
Freshwater Drum
- Weight: 36 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Alvin D. Williams in 1971
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Alvin D. Williams in 1971
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mujijoa79 // Shutterstock
Gizzard Shad
- Weight: 4 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Slim Rutschke in 1992
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Slim Rutschke in 1992
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Jason Patrick Ross // Shutterstock
Golden Shiner
- Weight: 0 lbs 4 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Vicki Raths in 1985
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Vicki Raths in 1985
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Commons
Goldeye
- Weight: 3 lbs 13 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Lake Oahe Tailrace
- Record set by Gary Heuer in 1987
- Location: Missouri River - Lake Oahe Tailrace
- Record set by Gary Heuer in 1987
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/18TK4D.jpg)
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M Huston // Shutterstock
Green Sunfish
- Weight: 1 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Minnehaha Co. Stock Pond
- Record set by Alex Meland in 2005
- Location: Minnehaha Co. Stock Pond
- Record set by Alex Meland in 2005
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Ryan Cuddy // Shutterstock
Kokanee Salmon
- Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz
- Location: Pactola Reservoir
- Record set by Russ Backus in 1974
- Location: Pactola Reservoir
- Record set by Russ Backus in 1974
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James.Pintar // Shutterstock
Lake Sturgeon
- Weight: 40 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Daniel Bouza in 1990
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Daniel Bouza in 1990
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Pi-Lens // Shutterstock
Lake Trout
- Weight: 28 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Pactola Reservoir
- Record set by Steve Matheny in 2009
- Location: Pactola Reservoir
- Record set by Steve Matheny in 2009
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Pierre Rebollar // Shutterstock
Largemouth Bass
- Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz
- Location: gravel pit
- Record set by Richard Viereck in 1999
- Location: gravel pit
- Record set by Richard Viereck in 1999
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Mikhail Blajenov // Shutterstock
Longnose Gar
- Weight: 16 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Curt Larseon in 1996
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Curt Larseon in 1996
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NOAA // Wikimedia Commons
Mooneye
- Weight: 1 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Lake Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Roe Gifford in 1967
- Location: Missouri River - Lake Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Roe Gifford in 1967
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M Huston // Shutterstock
Muskellunge
- Weight: 40 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Amsden Dam
- Record set by Daniel B. Krueger in 1991
- Location: Amsden Dam
- Record set by Daniel B. Krueger in 1991
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FedBul // Shutterstock
Northern Pike
- Weight: 36 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Jeff Case in 1993
- Location: Lake Oahe
- Record set by Jeff Case in 1993
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Saran Jantraurai // Shutterstock
Paddlefish
- Weight: 120 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Ft. Randall Dam Tailwaters
- Record set by Don Gregg in 1979
- Location: Missouri River - Ft. Randall Dam Tailwaters
- Record set by Don Gregg in 1979
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Glass and Nature // Shutterstock
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
- Weight: 0 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Lake Carthage
- Record set by Pat McCart in 1970
- Location: Lake Carthage
- Record set by Pat McCart in 1970
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Rainbow Trout
- Weight: 19 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Rom Moore in 1980
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Rom Moore in 1980
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/87D42O.png)
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Duane Raver // Wikimedia Commons
River Carpsucker
- Weight: 7 lbs 15 oz
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Paulette H. Gun in 1999
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Paulette H. Gun in 1999
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Steve Brigman // Shutterstock
Rock Bass
- Weight: 2 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Lewis & Clark Lake
- Record set by Joe A. Kippes in 1990
- Location: Lewis & Clark Lake
- Record set by Joe A. Kippes in 1990
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/170023PLAP.jpg)
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Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock
Sauger
- Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Harvey Holzworth in 1960
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Harvey Holzworth in 1960
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/137BAJL.png)
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Smithsonian Environmental Research Center // Wikimedia Commons
Shorthead Redhorse
- Weight: 3 lbs 11 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Phil Laumeyer in 1997
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Phil Laumeyer in 1997
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GUNAWAN SIDIK // Shutterstock
Shortnose Gar
- Weight: 5 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Ft. Randall Tailrace
- Record set by Leo Hopkins Jr. in 1998
- Location: Ft. Randall Tailrace
- Record set by Leo Hopkins Jr. in 1998
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Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock
Shovelnose Sturgeon
- Weight: 6 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Don McMullen in 1987
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by Don McMullen in 1987
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock
Smallmouth Bass
- Weight: 6 lbs 9 oz
- Location: Lake Poinsett
- Record set by Darin Laue in 2008
- Location: Lake Poinsett
- Record set by Darin Laue in 2008
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/51smbXYJT.png)
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Ohio DNR // Wikimedia Commons
Smallmouth Buffalo
- Weight: 30 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Bill Lynch in 1986
- Location: Missouri River
- Record set by Bill Lynch in 1986
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/52IKPJ.jpg)
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Matt Jeppson // Shutterstock
Splake
- Weight: 10 lbs 13 oz
- Location: Deerfield Lake
- Record set by Dennis Larive in 2005
- Location: Deerfield Lake
- Record set by Dennis Larive in 2005
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/20L2WA.jpg)
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock
Tiger Muskellunge
- Weight: 37 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Lake Sharpe-Stilling Basin
- Record set by Jason Besmer in 2003
- Location: Lake Sharpe-Stilling Basin
- Record set by Jason Besmer in 2003
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/5392ZI.jpg)
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Matt Jeppson // Shutterstock
Tiger Trout
- Weight: 1 lbs 2 oz
- Location: Center Lake
- Record set by Tom Reeve in 2012
- Location: Center Lake
- Record set by Tom Reeve in 2012
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wwwarjag //Shutterstock
Walleye
- Weight: 15 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by George Heyde in 1979
- Location: Lake Sharpe
- Record set by George Heyde in 1979
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/12ZU22.jpg)
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock
White Bass
- Weight: 4 lbs 12 oz
- Location: North Rush Lake
- Record set by Steve Kennedy in 2011
- Location: North Rush Lake
- Record set by Steve Kennedy in 2011
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/21T71R.jpg)
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Jennifer White Maxwell // Shutterstock
White Crappie
- Weight: 3 lbs 9 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Gary Ernst in 1974
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Gary Ernst in 1974
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/64ZH2V.jpg)
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RLS Photo // Shutterstock
White Sucker
- Weight: 9 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Rush Lake
- Record set by Domanic Heim in 2012
- Location: Rush Lake
- Record set by Domanic Heim in 2012
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/78SP86.png)
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Whitefish
- Weight: 7 lbs 9 oz
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Clinton Woody in 1988
- Location: Missouri River - Oahe Tailwaters
- Record set by Clinton Woody in 1988
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jpreat // Shutterstock
Yellow Bullhead
- Weight: 2 lbs 11 oz
- Location: Big Stone Lake
- Record set by Robert Adams in 1980
- Location: Big Stone Lake
- Record set by Robert Adams in 1980
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/0600837CH0J.jpg)
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John Piekos // Shutterstock
Yellow Perch
- Weight: 2 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Bitter Lake
- Record set by Dave Engels in 2004
- Location: Bitter Lake
- Record set by Dave Engels in 2004