The Record-Breaking Fish of the Leech Lake Area
Among the reasons we love living in Walker, fishing is certainly near the top of most everyone’s list!
To us, fishing is more than just a sport or hobby. It’s a way of life; a chance to enjoy the outdoors, take time to relax, and connect with others.
And of course, nothing is better than the feeling of reeling in a monster catch. It’s a thrill you can hardly describe!
To celebrate the fantastic fishing we get to enjoy in the Leech Lake area, we’ve collected a list of some of the record-breaking fish caught in our region. We hope you enjoy, and perhaps you’ll feel inspired to go out and try to break a record or two!
Whitefish
The largest whitefish caught in Leech Lake came in at a whopping 28½ inches, at a weight of 12 pounds, 8 ounces. This monster has held the record for the largest whitefish caught in the entire state of Minnesota since March 21, 1999.
However, this record does have a new challenger: a whitefish caught near Lake of the Woods in April 2019. The photo below is of the recent catch, but it gives you a sense of the massive size of these record-holding fish.
Photo Credit: Sara Thompson/ SJT Marketing
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
On average, pumpkinseed sunfish grow to about 4 inches long and weigh less than a pound. The record-breaking sunfish caught on Leech Lake came in at 10 inches long, weighing 1 pound 5 ounces! Like the whitefish, this sunfish has held the state record since 1999. It even rivals the current world record pumpkinseed sunfish, which weighed 1 pound 8 ounces.
Rock Bass
While Leech Lake is the best-known fishing spot in the region, other nearby lakes provide plenty of opportunity for anglers, too!
The largest rock bass ever recorded in Minnesota was caught in Lake Winnibigoshish, just a few miles north of Leech Lake. The bass weighed in at a hefty 2 pounds — anyone familiar with rock bass knows they rarely weigh over a pound.
Muskellunge
Another incredible fishing record belongs to Lake Winnibigoshish — this one has stood since 1957. The lucky angler reeled in a muskie weighing 54 pounds and measuring a length of 56 inches.
This record has been challenged a few times in recent years. The muskie in the photo below may have broken the record, but angler Kelsey Poshusta didn’t have a board long enough to measure it!
Photo Credit: Kelsey Poshusta
What’s the largest fish you’ve ever caught on Leech Lake? Do they rival any of the record-breaking fish in this list? Show us your most incredible catches on our Facebook page!
