There are 45 different fish species classified for state records with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Some of them, like the 69 pound 15 ounce Muskie that Arthur Lawton caught on the St. Lawrence River on September 22, 1957 or the 46 pound 2 ounce Northern Pike that Peter Dubuc caught in the Great Sacandaga Lake on September 15, 1940 may never be broken.

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My favorite is Kevin Kelly's 7 pound 7 ounce Black Bullhead that he caught on 'WonderBread' in Mill Pond on Long Island back in 1993. However each year, it seems like one or two of the records fall. That's what happened in 2021.

northern pike caught on a minnow imitation lure
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The first record of 2021 went down in June, when on the 13th Chase Soptelean reeled in an 13 pound 8 ounce Bowfin out of the Yanty Creek near Rochester and Lake Ontario. Seriously, I had never heard of a Bowfin but this is what they look like and I am sure Chase, like all of us would be, was happy to reel in any 13 pound fish! Congratulations Chase!

The bowfin, Amia calva, is the last surviving member of the order Amiiformes
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The second New York State fish record went down in the southern tip of the Capital Region on August 21st of this year, when Roy Isaac landed a sweet 4 pound 7 ounce White Crappie from Sleepy Hallow Lake in Athens, in Green County. That is a big fish and congratulations to Roy. Out of 45 New York State Record Fish, only 3 have been caught in the Capital Region of New York. So, thanks Roy for keeping us in the books!

Crappie on Green Flotation Device
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