DNR certifies 9 new record fish following changes to program

MINNESOTA — Nine new anglers are officially in the state’s record books with their big catches.

The new records come after the Department of Natural Resources made changes to its record fish program, including expanding the catch-and-release category with 18 more species and collecting modern records alongside those established before certified scales were not a requirement.

Previously, the DNR only kept catch-and-release records for flathead catfish, lake sturgeon, muskie and northern pike.

If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, length measurements must be documented with photos, and you must have a witness who is willing to be on your application.

Visit mndnr.gov/record fish for more information and good luck.

New state record fish since March 1

Certified weight category

• Coho salmon – 12 pounds, 5 ounces; June 1, Lake Superior, St. Louis County; caught by Austin Stoltenburg of Iron
• Black crappie – 3 pounds, 9 ounces; May 9, Cedar Lake, Rice County; caught by Nolan Sprengeler of Plymouth
• Mooneye – 2 pounds, 1 ounce; May 11, Wabasha Creek, Redwood County; caught by Robert Tufts II of Franklin
• Yellow bass – 1 pound, 3 ounces; May 11, Clear Lake, Jackson County; caught by Dennis Dagel of Lakefield

Catch-and-release category

• Brown trout – 30 inches; April 15, Lake Superior, St. Louis County; caught by Dan Zeleznikar of Duluth
• Lake trout – 42 1/2 inches; April 21, Lake Superior, St. Louis County; caught by Kelsey Vanderheyden of Stanchfield
• Shovelnose sturgeon – 34 1/4 inches; March 8, Mississippi River, Goodhue County; caught by Tyler Young of Lakeville
• Shovelnose sturgeon – 35 inches; March 12, Minnesota River, Scott County; caught by Elliott Feldman of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
• Smallmouth bass – 22 3/4 inches; June 25, Basswood Lake, Lake County; caught by Xavier Bradley-Rael of Omaha, Neb.