South Dakota Angler Lands Record Pumpkinseed Keith Lusher 08.05.26A South Dakota angler targeting walleye instead landed a state-record pumpkinseed sunfish, breaking a record that had stood for 56 years. Jack Backman of Harrisburg caught the 1-pound pumpkinseed on June 18 while fishing Wall Lake near the town of Wall. Without a scale in the boat, they relied on memory, knowing the existing record weighed just 12 ounces. Backman later completed the required paperwork, and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department officially recognized the catch as the new state-record pumpkinseed. The record fish is currently in his freezer, but not for long.