The Largest Muskellunge Ever Caught in Pennsylvania Was an Imposing Creature

According to official sources, the largest muskellunge ever caught in Pennsylvania was almost twice the size of the average musky. So, it wasn’t just big; it was huge. What’s even more interesting is that no one reported catching a larger specimen in Pennsylvania or beating the state record in almost 100 years.

This muskellunge was obviously quite special. Let’s explore the details about it and its lucky catcher below.

The Largest Muskellunge Ever Caught in Pennsylvania

The largest muskellunge ever caught in Pennsylvania weighed 54 pounds and three ounces, and it was caught by Lewis Walker Jr. from Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1924. This means that Mr. Walker has been holding the state record for almost a century (or precisely 99 years at the moment of writing).

This shouldn’t be so surprising when you consider that an average musky is much smaller and lighter than Mr. Walker’s catch. In fact, a typical musky weighs around just 36 pounds, making it almost two times smaller than the Pennsylvania state record.

So, yes; Pennsylvania’s largest musky really was an imposing creature, and it’s not likely that we’ll see comparable specimens anytime soon.

However, we should note that some people have doubts about records set decades ago, such as Mr. Walker’s. They say that the rules weren’t as strict as they are today, which made scams likelier and easier to pull off. For example, some anglers would attempt to stuff fish with different materials to increase its weight — and some are still trying to do so today, only they’re less likely to succeed.

That’s why people are still debating many older records, and those for the largest muskellunge are no exception.

Where Was Pennsylvania’s Largest Musky Caught?

Mr. Walker caught his massive catch while fishing on the Conneaut Lake in Crawford County. 

Conneaut Lake is the largest glacier lake in Pennsylvania, which makes it popular among both tourists and anglers. It’s loaded with a number of fish species, including muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, bullhead, pike, and bass. 

How Big Is the Largest Muskellunge Ever Caught Worldwide?

Unfortunately, even experts disagree on who caught the largest muskellunge in the world and how big it was. However, some sources state that the maximum documented length is 72.04 inches, and the heaviest documented weight is 70.10 pounds. 

Still, the musky community has some doubts about these reports and records.

Take the reportedly largest muskellunge caught around the Great Lakes as an example. The record belongs to (or, rather, used to belong to) Louis Spray. His musky, caught in 1949, allegedly weighed 69 pounds and 11 ounces. Mr. Spray has been holding the record for Wisconsin’s largest musky ever since. 

However, the IGFA (International Game Fish Association) recently made an extensive review of Mr. Spray’s record and claims. They probably found evidence that made them question Mr. Spray’s catch, as they stopped promoting him as the title holder following their investigation. (Keep in mind, though, that not everyone necessarily agrees with the IGFA’s decision.)

So, to sum up, no one can say for sure who caught the largest muskellunge, or how big it was. The IGFA, however, now believes that the title should go to Cal Johnson, who claimed to have caught a 67-pound, eight-ounce musky near Hayward, Wisconsin in 1949.  

Three Muskellunge Facts

• Muskellunge is a predatory species with very sharp, needle-like teeth.
• They’re not gentle — they kill their prey by ripping its head off.
• They are nicknamed the fish of 10,000 casts because they can be very difficult to catch.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/glxedwards