Don Mickel, a professional fishing guide, caught a 35.1-inch walleye on the Rainy River in Minnesota. With a 24.25-inch girth, the fish tipped 17.9 pounds on Mickel's hand scale and he knew he had a potential record in the boat.
The current Minnesota walleye state record stands at 17.8 pounds and was caught in 1979. That fish measured 35.8 inches in length but only had a 21.3-inch girth.