How Many of Minnesota’s State Record Fish Were Caught in Northeastern Minnesota?
With thousands of bodies of water, Minnesota is truly a fisherman's paradise. Many of those bodies of water have produced record-setting fish, so that got me wondering how many of those record-setting fish have come from lakes in Northeastern Minnesota.
According to the Minnesota DNR, here are the state record-holders that were caught in our part of the state:
- Rock Bass - 13 1/2 inches, 2 lbs 0 oz - Lake Winnibigoshish (Tied with Lake Osakis) on 8/30/2004
- Smallmouth Buffalo - 32 inches, 20 lbs 0 oz - Big Sandy on 9/20/2003
- Brown Bullhead - 24 3/8 inches, 7 lbs 1 oz - Shallow Lake on 5/21/1974
- Muskellunge - 56 inches, 54 lbs 0 oz - Lake Winnibigoshish in 1957
- Northern Pike - Unknown Length, 45 lbs 12 oz - Basswood Lake on 5/16/1929
- Silver Redhorse - 26 1/2 inches, 9 lbs 15 oz - Bigfork River (Koochiching County) on 4/16/2004
- Atlantic Salmon - 35 1/2 inches, 12 lbs 13 oz - Baptism River (Lake County) on 10/12/1991
- Chinook Salmon - 44 3/4 inches, 33 lbs 4 oz - (Tie) Lake Superior (Cook County) on 9/23/1989 and Lake Superior (St. Louis County) on 10/12/1989
- Coho Salmon - 27 3/8 inches, 10 lbs 6 oz - Lake Superior near mouth of Baptism River (Lake County) on 11/7/1970
- Kokanee Salmon - 20 inches, 2 lbs 15 oz - Caribou Lake on 8/6/1971
- Pink Salmon - 23 1/2 inches, 4 lbs 8 oz - Cascade River (Cook County) on 9/9/1989
- Longnose Sucker - 12 inches, 3 lbs 10 oz - Brule River (Cook County) on 5/19/2005
- Brook Trout - 24 inches, 6 lbs 5 oz - Pigeon River (Cook County) on 9/2/2000
- Brown Trout - 31 3/8 inches, 16 lbs 12 oz - Lake Superior (St. Louis County) on 6/23/1989
- Lake Trout - Unknown length, 43 lbs 8 oz - Lake Superior near Hovland (Cook County) on 5/30/1955
- Rainbow Trout - 33 inches, 16 lbs 6 oz - Devil Track River (Cook County) on 4/27/1980
- Splake Trout (Brook/Lake Hybrid) - 33 1/2 inches, 13 lbs 5 oz - Larson Lake on 2/11/2001
- Walleye - 35 3/4 inches, 17 lbs 8 oz - Seagull River at Saganaga Lake (Cook County) on 5/13/1979
- Menominee Whitefish - 21 inches, 2 lbs 7 oz - Lake Superior (Cook County) 4/27/1987
Obviously there are certain breeds that only live in the Lake Superior region that help the count of record fish from this area, but this is still quite the list to be proud of for folks that live and fish in Northeastern Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR recommends that if you think you've caught a record fish, you should do the following:
- Weigh the fish on a state-certified scale (found at most bait shops and butcher shops), witnessed by two observers.
- Take the fish to a DNR fisheries office for positive identification and a state record fish application.
- Complete the State Record Fish submission form and send it along with a clear, full-length photo of your fish to the address listed on the form.