Walleye State Record Fish
This post will list the walleye state record fish for every state in the United States in which walleye are present. Walleye need cool, clear water to survive and flourish. Some states in the South do not offer this. Walleye are mostly though of as a cold water species, but they are more widely available than most anglers realize.
Where possible, the bait or lure, location, angler, and date will be included in each listing. Also, this list will be updated as often as possible, being currently written in the summer of 2022.
Walleye state record fish – details for each state
The list of walleye state record fish will be done in alphabetical order. Some states do not apply. As much detail as possible will be included with each listing. So, let’s get started covering the largest walleye caught in each of the states where they are found!
Alabama
The Alabama state record walleye is 10 lbs 4 oz. It was caught in 1980 on Weiss Reservoir by Julia Hurley of Cedar Bluff.
Arizona
The Arizona top walleye weighed in at 16 lbs 2 oz. It was caught in 2002 on Show Low Lake by Gregg Munck.
Arkansas
On March 12, 1982 Al Nelson of Higden, Arkansas caught the state record walleye on Greers Ferry Lake. The fish weighed 22 lbs 11 oz.
Colorado
The largest walleye landed in Colorado weighed 18 lbs 4 oz. It was caught in Standley Lake in 1997 by Scott Regan.
Connecticut
The Connecticut state record walleye weighed 15 lbs 4 oz. It was caught by Vincent Deledda in Beach Pons, Voluntown in 2015.
Delaware
Delaware has a limited walleye fishery. The state record walleye weighed 6 lbs 14 oz. It was caught by Nesbit Copenhaver in the Brandywine River in 1995.
Georgia
Georgia has some cold mountain lakes that hold walleye. The Georgia state record walleye is 14 lbs 2 oz and was caught in Rabun Lake in February 2016 by Wes Carlton.
Idaho
The top walleye in Idaho was caught in Oakley Reservoir by Damon Rush of Pocatello. It hit a Rapala plug. The walleye weighed in at 17 lbs 14 oz. And was landed on September 11, 2011.
Indiana
The Indiana record walleye is shared by two anglers. Both fishg weighed 14 lbs 4 oz. Leon Richart caught his fish in Kankakee River in 1974. Donald Tedford landed his walleye in Tippecanoe River in 1977.
Illinois
On Sunday, March 11, 2012 James Zimmerman of Beloit, Wisconsin caught a 15.08 pound walleye on the Pecatonica River. This is the Illinois state record walleye.
Iowa
Iowa has a good population of Walleye. The state record fish is a 14 lb 8 oz specimen landed by Gloria Eoriatti in September, 1986 in the Des Moines River.
Kansas
The Kansas state record walleye weighed 13 lbs 2 oz. It was caught on a Rapala in Wilson Reservoir by Dustin Ritter of Hoisington in April of 1996.
Kentucky
Kentucky in not thought of as a walleye fishing destination. However, it boasts a state record fish of 21 lbs 8 oz. It was caught years ago in 1958 by Abe Black in Lake Cumberland.
Maine
Maine does not have a terrific walleye fishery, but there are some fish there. The Maine state record walleye is a modest 5 lbs 9 oz fish caught by Nathan Lawler in Messalonskee Lake in August of 2009.
Maryland
The Maryland State Record walleye was caught in Jennings Randolph Lake, Garrett County in 1998 by John McCarley. The fish weighed 14 lbs. 4 oz.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts state record walleye is a modest 11 pound fish. It was caught in Quabbin Reservoir by Robert Methot in 1973.
Michigan
Ray Fadely holds the Michigan state record for walleye. He caught it on a live minnow in Pine River in 1951. The walleye weighed in at 17 lbs 3 oz.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a top destination for anglers seeking walleye. The state record fish is 17 lbs 8 oz and was caught in the Seagull River. Leroy Chiovotte caught it in May of 1979.
Mississippi
Mississippi does have some walleye fishing in the northern part of the state. The state record walleye is 9 lbs 6 oz. It was caught by Clayton Hobbs from Iuka in the Tennessee River in January of 1985.
Missouri
The Missouri state record walleye is a really large fish! It weighed in at 21 lbs 1 oz and was caught in Bull Shoals Lake. Gerry Partlow landed the fish in March, 1988.
Montana
Trevor Johnson of Helena caught a new Montana state record walleye. He found it in Holter Lake near Helena on May 10, 2021. The fish weighed in at 18.02 pounds. He caught the record-setting fish on a jig.
Nebraska
The best fish on record in the state of Nebraska is a 16 lbs 2 oz walleye caught in Lake McConaughy by Herbert Cutshall in 1971.
Nevada
The largest walleye landed in Nevada was a 15 lbs 4 oz specimen. It was caught by Billy Foster back in April of 1998 in Lohantan Reservoir.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire top walleye landed is a respectable 12 lbs 9 oz fishing that was landed in the Connecticut River. Anthony Bartolini of Wells River caught the fish in May of 1992.
New Jersey
The New Jersey state record walleye was caught by George Fundell in the Delaware River. It weighed 13 lbs 9 oz and was landed in the Delaware River in 1991.
New Mexico
New Mexico has walleye fishing. In 1989, G.L. Peppers landed to top fish, a 16 lb 9 oz trophy in Clayton Lake.
New York
The largest walleye landed in New York state came in at a whopping 18 lbs 2 oz. Brian Harmon fooled it on a swimbait in the St. Lawrence River.
North Carolina
Lake Chatuge lies in the very west portion of North Carolina, in the mountains. It yielded the state record walleye, tipping the scales at 13 lbs 8 oz. Lamar Cofer caught it on an Old Faithful spoon in 1986.
North Dakota
North Dakota just recently saw the walleye state record broken. Jared Shypkoski caught the 16 lb 6 oz beauty in Upper Lake Oahe on march 13, 2021.
Ohio
Lake Erie is a tremendous walleye fishery. The Ohio state record fish was caught off of Cleveland by Tom Haberman and weighed in at 16 pounds 3 oz. He caught it while targeting yellow perch.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma state record walleye is a bit smaller than other states, coming in at 12 lbs 13 oz. Robert S Kerr Reservoir gave it up to Kerry Carter in May of 2004.
Oregon
While not often discussed among anglers as a walleye destination, the state record fish is an impressive 19 lb 15 ounce beauty. Arnold Berg caught it in 1990 in the Columbia River.
Pennsylvania
The long standing Pennsylvania walleye record was just recently broken! Richard Nicholson was fishing the Youghiogheny River in November, 2021 using a light outfit and caught the fish, which tipped the scales at 18 lbs 1 oz.
South Carolina
South Carolina has a few walleye, despite the southern location. The state record is a 10 pound fish caught in Lake Russell in 1994 by Robert Huskins.
South Dakota
South Dakota offers anglers some of the best walleye fishing in the country! The state record came out of the Ft Randall tailwaters in Nov of 2002. Georgine Chytka caught the 16 lb 2 oz trophy.
Tennessee
Tennessee holds the largest walleye caught in the United States. The monster weighed 25 pounds and was caught in Old Hickory Reservoir by Mabry Harper in 1960.
Texas
Texas has a smaller state record walleye. The fish weighed 11 lbs 14 oz and was caught in Lake Meredith by Hank McWilliams Jr. in Feb, 1990.
Utah
The Utah state record walleye is a respectable 15 lbs 9 oz fish. Jeffery Tanner caught it in 1991 in the Provo River.
Vermont
Richard Levesque caught the Vermont record walleye in Lake Champlain in February, 2010. It weighed 14 lbs 9 oz.
Virginia
The New River in Virginia yielded the top walleye in that state. It was a 15 lbs 15 oz trophy caught by Anthony Duncan in December of 2000.
Washington state
Washington has excellent walleye fishing in the Columbia River. In February of 2014, the state record was broken by John Grubenhoff of Pasco, catching a 20 lbs 6 oz monster!
West Virginia
The West Virginia top walleye is a very respectable 17 lbs 13 oz. It was caught in the Kanawha River by Steve Skeens in 2003.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin walleye record is very old, almost 100 years ago it was caught. The fish weighed 10 lbs even and was taken out of High Lake in 1933.
Wyoming
Last on the list is the Wyoming walleye record fish. It weighed 17 lbs 7 oz and was caught in Boysen Reservoir in Dec of 1991 by Stan Seivewright of Casper.
In conclusion, this article on the walleye state record fish will share some great information to fellow walleye anglers!
