Record fish caught in Kentucky

Written by:
October 21, 2022
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Record fish caught in Kentucky

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 Kentucky 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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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Bighead Carp

- Weight: 64 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Jonathan Creek - Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Drew Fulmer in 2010
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Blue Catfish

- Weight: 104 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Ohio River - Cannelton Dam tailwaters
- Record set by Bruce W. Midkiff in 1999
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Spencer Neuharth / USFWS // Wikimedia Commons

Blue Sucker

- Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Ohio River
- Record set by Stacy L. Boik in 2009
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Bluegill Sunfish

- Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Strip mine lake
- Record set by Phil Conyers in 1980
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Miroslav Halama // Shutterstock

Bowfin

- Weight: 15 lbs 1.28 oz
- Location: Green River
- Record set by Norman Moran in 1999
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock

Brook Trout

- Weight: 1 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Martins Fork
- Record set by R. James in 1982
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Brown Trout

- Weight: 21 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Cumberland River - Lake Cumberland tailwaters
- Record set by Thomas Malone in 2000
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WH_Pics // Shutterstock

Bullhead

- Weight: 5 lbs 3 oz
- Location: Guist Creek Lake
- Record set by Harry Case in 1992
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock

Carp

- Weight: 54 lbs 14 oz
- Location: South Fork Licking River
- Record set by Ricky Vance in 1971
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Chain Pickerel

- Weight: 5 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Forked Lake
- Record set by Tommy Thompson in 1983
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Aleron Val // Shutterstock

Channel Catfish

- Weight: 28 lbs 4.8 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Hope Tinsley in 1994
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dcwcreations // Shutterstock

Crappie

- Weight: 4 lbs 14 oz
- Location: Watershed Lake
- Record set by Penny Hopper in 2005
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Flathead Catfish

- Weight: 97 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Green River
- Record set by Esker Carroll in 1956
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Freshwater Drum

- Weight: 38 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Green River
- Record set by Larry Cardwell in 1980
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Golden Redhorse

- Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Red River
- Record set by Leif Meadows in 1998
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USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Commons

Goldeye

- Weight: 2 lbs 6.4 oz
- Location: Kentucky River
- Record set by Mark Smith in 2001
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Vladimir Wrangel // Shutterstock

Grass Carp

- Weight: 58 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Forest Lawn Lake
- Record set by Robert Marsh in 2009
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Clint H // Shutterstock

Grass Pickerel

- Weight: 0 lbs 10.08 oz
- Location: Wilson Creek
- Record set by Gerald Gallagher in 1989
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Green Sunfish

- Weight: 1 lbs 5 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Raymond Peyton in 2000
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Hybrid Bass

- Weight: 20 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Barren River
- Record set by Mark Wilson in 1991
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Pi-Lens // Shutterstock

Lake Trout

- Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz
- Location: Cumberland River
- Record set by John McDonogh in 1983
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Pierre Rebollar // Shutterstock

Largemouth Bass

- Weight: 13 lbs 10.4 oz
- Location: Wood Creek Lake
- Record set by Dale Wilson in 1984
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Dewitt // Shutterstock

Longear Sunfish

- Weight: 0 lbs 13.28 oz
- Location: Strip mine lake
- Record set by Anthony Lynch in 1994
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Mikhail Blajenov // Shutterstock

Longnose Gar

- Weight: 40 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Ohio River
- Record set by Kelsie Travis Jr. in 1956
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Muskellunge

- Weight: 47 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Cave Run Lake
- Record set by Sarah Salchli in 2008
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FedBul // Shutterstock

Northern Pike

- Weight: 9 lbs 8 oz
- Location: strip mine lake
- Record set by Howard F. Renfro in 1981
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Paddlefish

- Weight: 82 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Parrish Lake
- Record set by Standley Shelton in 1982
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Rainbow Trout

- Weight: 14 lbs 6 oz
- Location: Cumberland River - Lake Cumberland tailwaters
- Record set by Jim Mattingly in 1972
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M Huston // Shutterstock

Redbreast Sunfish

- Weight: 0 lbs 14.08 oz
- Location: Marsh Creek
- Record set by Tim King in 1997
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Redear Sunfish

- Weight: 3 lbs 1 oz
- Location: private pond
- Record set by Betty Truax in 1982
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Brian Gratwicke // Wikimedia Commons

River Redhorse

- Weight: 7 lbs 13 oz
- Location: North Fork Kentucky River
- Record set by Darrell W. Sparkman in 2000
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Rock Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Casey Creek
- Record set by H.S. White in 1975
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Sauger

- Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Lake Cumberland
- Record set by Rastie Andrew in 1983
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RLS Photo // Shutterstock

Saugeye

- Weight: 6 lbs 9.28 oz
- Location: Ohio River
- Record set by Chuck Kouns in 1998
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Duane Raver // Wikimedia Commons

Skipjack Herring

- Weight: 2 lbs 13 oz
- Location: Cumberland River
- Record set by Greg Cary in 2001
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CSNafzger // Shutterstock

Smallmouth Bass

- Weight: 8 lbs 7.36 oz
- Location: Laurel River Lake
- Record set by Coolie Williams in 1998
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Ohio DNR // Wikimedia Commons

Smallmouth Buffalo

- Weight: 55 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Clinton Roby in 2000
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Spotted Bass

- Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz
- Location: not available
- Record set by A.E. Sellers in 1970
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slowmotiongli // Shutterstock

Striped Bass

- Weight: 58 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Beaver Creek
- Record set by Roger Foster in 1985
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Sturgeon

- Weight: 36 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Cumberland
- Record set by Barney Frazier in 1954
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock

Tiger Muskellunge

- Weight: 13 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Dewey Lake
- Record set by James Mollet in 1981
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wwwarjag //Shutterstock

Walleye

- Weight: 21 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Cumberland
- Record set by Abe Black in 1958
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Bclegg77 // Wikimedia Commons

Warmouth

- Weight: 1 lbs 6.2 oz
- Location: Farm Pond
- Record set by Jon Hoover in 2003
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock

White Bass

- Weight: 5 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Lorne E. Dawson in 1943
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Apostrophe // Shutterstock

White Bass

- Weight: 5 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Herrington Lake
- Record set by B.B. Hardin in 1957
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RLS Photo // Shutterstock

White Sucker

- Weight: 1 lbs 10 oz
- Location: Slate Creek
- Record set by Larry S. Salchli in 1998
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Kevin H Knuth // Shutterstock

Yellow Bass

- Weight: 1 lbs 6.4 oz
- Location: Cumberland River
- Record set by William Hinton in 2009
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John Piekos // Shutterstock

Yellow Perch

- Weight: 1 lbs 7 oz
- Location: Kentucky Lake
- Record set by Klint Thaxton in 2010

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