• Based on the search results, here’s a summary of key walleye fishing records and notable trophy achievements across multiple states:

### 🏆 **World Record Walleye**
– **25 pounds, 41 inches**: Caught by Mabry Harper in Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee (1960). Controversial due to photo discrepancies, but reinstated as the official world record in 2019 after evidence review .

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### 📊 **State Records & Notable Catches**
#### **Minnesota**
– **State Record**: **17 lbs 8 oz**, caught in the Seagull River (1979) by Merle Paini .
– **Recent Highlights**: Lake Winnibigoshish and Mille Lacs Lake produce consistent trophy-sized walleye (10+ lbs), though low water and high clarity in 2025 are challenging anglers .

#### **Virginia**
– **Trophy Potential**: Upper New River is renowned for walleye exceeding **28 inches**, with fast growth rates due to stocking. South Holston Lake also holds abundant 18+ inch walleye .
– **Saugeye Success**: Lake Anna and Lake Brittle yield saugeye (walleye-sauger hybrid) up to **7.5 lbs** .

#### **Ohio (Lake Erie)**
– **Fish Ohio Program**: In 2024, **980 walleye** met trophy criteria (28+ inches). Lake Erie dominates submissions, earning its title “Walleye Capital of the World” .

#### **Montana**
– **Rock Creek Tournament (2025)**: Winning walleye weighed **30.82 lbs** (team total). High winds cut the event short .

#### **North Dakota**
– **Top Waters**: Powers Lake (NW District) and Clearwater Lake hold strong populations of large walleye and pike. Trenton Lake is noted for crappie and walleye mixes .

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### 🎣 **Key Trophy Waters for 2025**
| **State/Location** | **Highlights** | **Source** |
|————————–|——————————————————————————-|————|
| **Upper New River, VA** | Prime for 25+ lb walleye; stocked annually with fast-growing fingerlings. | |
| **Lake Erie, OH/PA** | 28″+ walleye abundant; 3,710 trophy fish submitted in 2024. | |
| **Lake Winnie, MN** | Clear water challenges anglers, but holds 10–11″ perch and walleye. | |
| **Flannagan Reservoir, VA** | Saugeye up to 26″; walleye avg 20″. Ideal for drift fishing. | |

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### ⚠️ **Record Validation Tips**
– **Weight Records**: Fish must be weighed on certified scales, ungutted, and verified by state officials (e.g., Colorado’s process) .
– **Length Records**: Measure from snout to tail tip with fins compressed; photos on a ruler required for release records .
– **Reporting**: Submit within 60 days of catch with witness signatures (varies by state).

For state-specific applications, consult resources like:
– [Colorado Parks & Wildlife](https://cpw.state.co.us/fishing/awards-and-records)
– [Ohio Fish Ohio Program](https://fishohio.gov) .

Tight lines! 🎣