Trivia – What is the largest fish ever caught in Minnesota waters?

From the StarTribune today –

Minnesota is an 86,943-square mile candy store for fishing enthusiasts looking to catch everything from northern pike to flathead catfish. However, the largest catch-and-release length recorded in the state belongs to the torpedo-shaped lake sturgeon.

Last February, an angler from Jordan, Minn., caught a 78-inch sturgeon weighing close to 120 pounds in the St. Croix River, according to the DNR. Standing on its tail fin, that’s as tall as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 6-foot-6 guard Jarrett Culvert.

Accidently snagged this paddlefish a few years ago on Pool 4, didn’t pull it into the boat but I pulled it alongside and gave it a quick measurement with a 36″ bump board and it was over 7 feet long from the tip of the beak to the tail. Wonder what that wieghed.

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Wow very cool fish! Nephew snagged one couple of years ago not nearly that big. His put up a heck of fight that thing must of taken some time to get in.

My CTE raddled brain seems to recall a 96 inch sturgeon or something of the sort, from way back before they were nearly exterminated.

Bass-n-Eyes wrote:

Accidently snagged this paddlefish a few years ago on Pool 4, didn’t pull it into the boat but I pulled it alongside and gave it a quick measurement with a 36″ bump board and it was over 7 feet long from the tip of the beak to the tail. Wonder what that wieghed.

Lucky! About 5 years ago me and a buddy found 4 of those floating on Pepin. I still wonder what happened and why all paddlefish in the same area???

tomr wrote:

Wow very cool fish! Nephew snagged one couple of years ago not nearly that big. His put up a heck of fight that thing must of taken some time to get in.

If I recall it was an hour and 20 minutes. We had to chase it around with boat, there was no way I could actually reel it in, it would just pull drag. If you notice I hooked it on the end of its beak, talk about some giant head shakes!

Bass-n-Eyes wrote:

Accidently snagged this paddlefish a few years ago on Pool 4, didn’t pull it into the boat but I pulled it alongside and gave it a quick measurement with a 36″ bump board and it was over 7 feet long from the tip of the beak to the tail. Wonder what that wieghed.

Joe:

Paddlefish are typically measured from their eye to the fork in their tail. Too bad you did not get that measurement because you then could have compared it to fish measured in states that have snagging seasons and measure and weigh a lot of paddlefish.

Suffice to say it was a big fish!

Buffalo Fishhead

Eelpoutguy wrote:

From the StarTribune today –

Minnesota is an 86,943-square mile candy store for fishing enthusiasts looking to catch everything from northern pike to flathead catfish. However, the largest catch-and-release length recorded in the state belongs to the torpedo-shaped lake sturgeon.

Last February, an angler from Jordan, Minn., caught a 78-inch sturgeon weighing close to 120 pounds in the St. Croix River, according to the DNR. Standing on its tail fin, that’s as tall as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 6-foot-6 guard Jarrett Culvert.

This guy….
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