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.

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!

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!