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1 / 59American Eel
- Weight: 6 lbs 9 oz
- Length: 36"
- Location: Saint Croix River - Stillwater
- Record set by Matthew R. Brown in 1997
- Length: 36"
- Location: Saint Croix River - Stillwater
- Record set by Matthew R. Brown in 1997
Record fish caught in Minnesota
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 Minnesota 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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Ilya Marchenko // Shutterstock
2 / 59Atlantic Salmon
- Weight: 12 lbs 13 oz
- Length: 35.5"
- Location: Baptism River
- Record set by Matt Bauer in 1991
- Length: 35.5"
- Location: Baptism River
- Record set by Matt Bauer in 1991
Alus164 // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 59Bigmouth Buffalo
- Weight: 41 lbs 11 oz
- Length: 38.5"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Robert Koplin in 1991
- Length: 38.5"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Robert Koplin in 1991
USFWS National Image Library // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 59Black Buffalo
- Weight: 20 lbs 0.5 oz
- Length: 34.2"
- Location: Minnesota River
- Record set by Kevin Tauer in 1997
- Length: 34.2"
- Location: Minnesota River
- Record set by Kevin Tauer in 1997
Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock
5 / 59Black Bullhead
- Weight: 3 lbs 13.12 oz
- Length: 17.17"
- Location: Reno Lake
- Record set by Keith Hvezda in 1997
- Length: 17.17"
- Location: Reno Lake
- Record set by Keith Hvezda in 1997
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Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock
6 / 59Black Crappie
- Weight: 5 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 21"
- Location: Vermillion River
- Record set by Tom Christenson in 1940
- Length: 21"
- Location: Vermillion River
- Record set by Tom Christenson in 1940
M Huston // Shutterstock
7 / 59Blue Catfish
- Weight: 52 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 48"
- Location: Minnesota River
- Record set by Steven J. Ness in 2002
- Length: 48"
- Location: Minnesota River
- Record set by Steven J. Ness in 2002
USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Spencer Neuharth / USFWS // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 59Blue Sucker
- Weight: 14 lbs 3 oz
- Length: 30.4"
- Location: Mississippi River - near Alma
- Record set by Bruce Edwards in 1987
- Length: 30.4"
- Location: Mississippi River - near Alma
- Record set by Bruce Edwards in 1987
dcwcreations // Shutterstock
9 / 59Bluegill Sunfish
- Weight: 2 lbs 13 oz
- Location: Alice Lake
- Record set by Bob Parker in 1948
- Location: Alice Lake
- Record set by Bob Parker in 1948
Miroslav Halama // Shutterstock
10 / 59Bowfin
- Weight: 11 lbs 4 oz
- Length: 32"
- Location: St. Croix River
- Record set in 2008
- Length: 32"
- Location: St. Croix River
- Record set in 2008
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Miroslav Halama // Shutterstock
11 / 59Bowfin
- Weight: 10 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 31"
- Location: French Lake
- Record set by Joe Engelmeyer in 1992
- Length: 31"
- Location: French Lake
- Record set by Joe Engelmeyer in 1992
slowmotiongli // Shutterstock
12 / 59Brook Trout
- Weight: 6 lbs 5.6 oz
- Length: 24"
- Location: Pigeon River
- Record set by Charles A. Pederson in 2000
- Length: 24"
- Location: Pigeon River
- Record set by Charles A. Pederson in 2000
slowmotiongli // Shutterstock
13 / 59Brown Bullhead
- Weight: 7 lbs 1 oz
- Length: 24.4"
- Location: Shallow Lake
- Record set by William Meyer in 1974
- Length: 24.4"
- Location: Shallow Lake
- Record set by William Meyer in 1974
Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock
14 / 59Brown Trout
- Weight: 16 lbs 12 oz
- Length: 31.4"
- Location: Lake Superior
- Record set by W. Landis Bullock in 1989
- Length: 31.4"
- Location: Lake Superior
- Record set by W. Landis Bullock in 1989
Neon_TI // Shutterstock
15 / 59Burbot
- Weight: 19 lbs 3 oz
- Length: 36.25"
- Location: Lake of the Woods - Baudette
- Record set by John Galles in 2001
- Length: 36.25"
- Location: Lake of the Woods - Baudette
- Record set by John Galles in 2001
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Rostislav Stefanek // Shutterstock
16 / 59Carp
- Weight: 55 lbs 5 oz
- Length: 42"
- Location: Clearwater Lake
- Record set by Frank Ledwein in 1952
- Length: 42"
- Location: Clearwater Lake
- Record set by Frank Ledwein in 1952
Aleron Val // Shutterstock
17 / 59Channel Catfish
- Weight: 38 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 44"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Terrence Fussy in 1975
- Length: 44"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Terrence Fussy in 1975
Kevin Cass // Shutterstock
18 / 59Chinook (King) Salmon
- Weight: 33 lbs 4 oz
- Length: 44.75"
- Location: Poplar River
- Record set by Dave Anderson in 1989
- Length: 44.75"
- Location: Poplar River
- Record set by Dave Anderson in 1989
Kevin Cass // Shutterstock
19 / 59Chinook (King) Salmon
- Weight: 33 lbs 4 oz
- Length: 42.25"
- Location: Lake Superior
- Record set by Jeffrey Gulbranson in 1989
- Length: 42.25"
- Location: Lake Superior
- Record set by Jeffrey Gulbranson in 1989
Troutnut // Shutterstock
20 / 59Coho Salmon
- Weight: 10 lbs 6.5 oz
- Length: 27.3"
- Location: Lake Superior - near Baptism River
- Record set by Louis Rhode in 1970
- Length: 27.3"
- Location: Lake Superior - near Baptism River
- Record set by Louis Rhode in 1970
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M Huston // Shutterstock
21 / 59Flathead Catfish
- Weight: 70 lbs 0 oz
- Location: Saint Croix River
- Record set by John L. Robert in 1970
- Location: Saint Croix River
- Record set by John L. Robert in 1970
Roxana Gonzalez // Shutterstock
22 / 59Freshwater Drum
- Weight: 35 lbs 3.2 oz
- Length: 36"
- Location: Mississippi River - near Winona
- Record set by Richard L. Rolbiecki in 1999
- Length: 36"
- Location: Mississippi River - near Winona
- Record set by Richard L. Rolbiecki in 1999
M Huston // Shutterstock
23 / 59Golden Redhorse
- Weight: 3 lbs 15.5 oz
- Length: 20"
- Location: Root River
- Record set in 2007
- Length: 20"
- Location: Root River
- Record set in 2007
USFWS Mountain-Prairie // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 59Goldeye
- Weight: 2 lbs 13.1 oz
- Length: 20.1"
- Location: Root River - near Hokah
- Record set by Jamie Borowiak in 2001
- Length: 20.1"
- Location: Root River - near Hokah
- Record set by Jamie Borowiak in 2001
M Huston // Shutterstock
25 / 59Green Sunfish
- Weight: 1 lbs 4.8 oz
- Length: 11.4"
- Location: North Arbor Lake
- Record set in 2005
- Length: 11.4"
- Location: North Arbor Lake
- Record set in 2005
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M Huston // Shutterstock
26 / 59Hybrid Sunfish
- Weight: 1 lbs 12 oz
- Length: 11.5"
- Location: Middle Fork Zumbro River
- Record set by Daniel Ahlquist in 1994
- Length: 11.5"
- Location: Middle Fork Zumbro River
- Record set by Daniel Ahlquist in 1994
Ryan Cuddy // Shutterstock
27 / 59Kokanee Salmon
- Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 20"
- Location: Caribou Lake
- Record set by Lars Kindem in 1971
- Length: 20"
- Location: Caribou Lake
- Record set by Lars Kindem in 1971
James.Pintar // Shutterstock
28 / 59Lake Sturgeon
- Weight: 94 lbs 4 oz
- Length: 70"
- Location: Kettle River
- Record set by Kim Bengston in 1994
- Length: 70"
- Location: Kettle River
- Record set by Kim Bengston in 1994
Pi-Lens // Shutterstock
29 / 59Lake Trout
- Weight: 43 lbs 8 oz
- Location: Lake Superior - near Hovland
- Record set by G. H. Nelson in 1955
- Location: Lake Superior - near Hovland
- Record set by G. H. Nelson in 1955
Piotr Wawrzyniuk // Shutterstock
30 / 59Lake Whitefish
- Weight: 12 lbs 4.5 oz
- Length: 28.5"
- Location: Leech Lake - near Walker
- Record set by Darryl L. Peterson in 1999
- Length: 28.5"
- Location: Leech Lake - near Walker
- Record set by Darryl L. Peterson in 1999
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Pierre Rebollar // Shutterstock
31 / 59Largemouth Bass
- Weight: 8 lbs 12.75 oz
- Length: 13.5"
- Location: Tetonka Lake
- Record set by Joseph Johanns in 1994
- Length: 13.5"
- Location: Tetonka Lake
- Record set by Joseph Johanns in 1994
Mikhail Blajenov // Shutterstock
32 / 59Longnose Gar
- Weight: 16 lbs 12 oz
- Length: 53"
- Location: Saint Croix River - Prescott
- Record set by Doug Fullerton in 1982
- Length: 53"
- Location: Saint Croix River - Prescott
- Record set by Doug Fullerton in 1982
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 59Longnose Sucker
- Weight: 3 lbs 10.6 oz
- Length: 21"
- Location: Brule River
- Record set in 2005
- Length: 21"
- Location: Brule River
- Record set in 2005
NOAA // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 59Mooneye
- Weight: 1 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 16.5"
- Location: Minnesota River
- Record set by Scott Neudecker in 1980
- Length: 16.5"
- Location: Minnesota River
- Record set by Scott Neudecker in 1980
M Huston // Shutterstock
35 / 59Muskellunge
- Weight: 54 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 56"
- Location: Lake Winnibigoshish
- Record set by Art Lyons in 1957
- Length: 56"
- Location: Lake Winnibigoshish
- Record set by Art Lyons in 1957
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FedBul // Shutterstock
36 / 59Northern Pike
- Weight: 45 lbs 12 oz
- Location: Basswood Lake
- Record set by J. V. Schanken in 2002
- Location: Basswood Lake
- Record set by J. V. Schanken in 2002
SnapTPhotography // Shutterstock
37 / 59Pink (Humpback) Salmon
- Weight: 4 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 23.5"
- Location: Cascade River
- Record set by Eugene E. Troyna in 1989
- Length: 23.5"
- Location: Cascade River
- Record set by Eugene E. Troyna in 1989
Glass and Nature // Shutterstock
38 / 59Pumpkinseed Sunfish
- Weight: 1 lbs 5.6 oz
- Length: 10.1"
- Location: Leech Lake
- Record set by John Svihel in 1999
- Length: 10.1"
- Location: Leech Lake
- Record set by John Svihel in 1999
Canva
39 / 59Rainbow Trout
- Weight: 16 lbs 6 oz
- Length: 33"
- Location: Devil Track River
- Record set in 1980
- Length: 33"
- Location: Devil Track River
- Record set in 1980
Duane Raver // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 59River Carpsucker
- Weight: 3 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 19.5"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Stephen Cook in 1991
- Length: 19.5"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Stephen Cook in 1991
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Brian Gratwicke // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 59River Redhorse
- Weight: 12 lbs
- Length: 28.78"
- Location: Kettle River
- Record set by Brent LaPierre in 2005
- Length: 28.78"
- Location: Kettle River
- Record set by Brent LaPierre in 2005
Steve Brigman // Shutterstock
42 / 59Rock Bass
- Weight: 2 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 13.5"
- Location: Lake Osakis
- Record set by Paul Kern in 1998
- Length: 13.5"
- Location: Lake Osakis
- Record set by Paul Kern in 1998
Steve Oehlenschlager // Shutterstock
43 / 59Sauger
- Weight: 6 lbs 2.75 oz
- Length: 23.88"
- Location: Mississippi River - near Red Wing
- Record set by Don Kizer in 1988
- Length: 23.88"
- Location: Mississippi River - near Red Wing
- Record set by Don Kizer in 1988
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 59Shorthead Redhorse
- Weight: 7 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 27"
- Location: Rum River - near Ramsey
- Record set by Robert G. Litke in 1983
- Length: 27"
- Location: Rum River - near Ramsey
- Record set by Robert G. Litke in 1983
GUNAWAN SIDIK // Shutterstock
45 / 59Shortnose Gar
- Weight: 4 lbs 9.6 oz
- Length: 34.6"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Matthew Ocel in 1984
- Length: 34.6"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Matthew Ocel in 1984
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Andrea Izzotti // Shutterstock
46 / 59Shovelnose Sturgeon
- Weight: 5 lbs 9 oz
- Length: 34"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Joe Yankovec in 2007
- Length: 34"
- Location: Mississippi River
- Record set by Joe Yankovec in 2007
John Czenke // Shutterstock
47 / 59Silver Redhorse
- Weight: 9 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 26.6"
- Location: Big Fork River
- Record set in 2004
- Length: 26.6"
- Location: Big Fork River
- Record set in 2004
CSNafzger // Shutterstock
48 / 59Smallmouth Bass
- Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz
- Location: West Battle Lake
- Record set by John Creighton in 1948
- Location: West Battle Lake
- Record set by John Creighton in 1948
Ohio DNR // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 59Smallmouth Buffalo
- Weight: 20 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 32"
- Location: Big Sandy
- Record set in 2003
- Length: 32"
- Location: Big Sandy
- Record set in 2003
Matt Jeppson // Shutterstock
50 / 59Splake
- Weight: 13 lbs 5.44 oz
- Length: 33.5"
- Location: Larson Lake
- Record set by Michael Birdsall in 2001
- Length: 33.5"
- Location: Larson Lake
- Record set by Michael Birdsall in 2001
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Jennifer de Graaf // Shutterstock
51 / 59Tiger Muskellunge
- Weight: 34 lbs 12 oz
- Length: 51"
- Location: Lake Elmo
- Record set by Josh Stevenson in 1999
- Length: 51"
- Location: Lake Elmo
- Record set by Josh Stevenson in 1999
Matt Jeppson // Shutterstock
52 / 59Tiger Trout
- Weight: 2 lbs 9.12 oz
- Length: 20"
- Location: Mill Creek
- Record set by Chris Nelson in 1999
- Length: 20"
- Location: Mill Creek
- Record set by Chris Nelson in 1999
wwwarjag //Shutterstock
53 / 59Walleye
- Weight: 17 lbs 8 oz
- Length: 35.8"
- Location: Seagull River
- Record set by Leroy Chiovitte in 1979
- Length: 35.8"
- Location: Seagull River
- Record set by Leroy Chiovitte in 1979
Apostrophe // Shutterstock
54 / 59White Bass
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Length: 18.5"
- Location: Mississippi River Pool 5
- Record set in 2004
- Length: 18.5"
- Location: Mississippi River Pool 5
- Record set in 2004
Apostrophe // Shutterstock
55 / 59White Bass
- Weight: 4 lbs 0 oz
- Length: 18"
- Location: Genoa fishing barge
- Record set by Richard Zehrt in 1974
- Length: 18"
- Location: Genoa fishing barge
- Record set by Richard Zehrt in 1974
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Jennifer White Maxwell // Shutterstock
56 / 59White Crappie
- Weight: 3 lbs 15 oz
- Length: 18"
- Location: Constance Lake
- Record set by Michael J. Woodward in 2002
- Length: 18"
- Location: Constance Lake
- Record set by Michael J. Woodward in 2002
RLS Photo // Shutterstock
57 / 59White Sucker
- Weight: 9 lbs 1 oz
- Length: 24.25"
- Location: Big Fish Lake
- Record set by Thomas Waibel in 1983
- Length: 24.25"
- Location: Big Fish Lake
- Record set by Thomas Waibel in 1983
jpreat // Shutterstock
58 / 59Yellow Bullhead
- Weight: 3 lbs 10.5 oz
- Length: 17.875"
- Location: Lake Osakis
- Record set by Dick Ellingsworth in 2002
- Length: 17.875"
- Location: Lake Osakis
- Record set by Dick Ellingsworth in 2002
John Piekos // Shutterstock
59 / 59Yellow Perch
- Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz
- Location: Lake Plantaganette
- Record set by Merle Johnson in 1945
- Location: Lake Plantaganette
- Record set by Merle Johnson in 1945
