Frank Ledwein
King of Carp Republished from the Heart of the Lakes Vacation Guide ‘93
Editor’s note: After this story appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune June 2, 1983, David Nikolow of Falls Church, Va., caught a 57-pound, 13-ounce carp on the Potomac River near Washington D.C. breaking Frank Ledwein’s world carp record. Ledwein, who died in 1983, still holds the Minnesota state record.
By Ron Schara Minneapolis Star Tribune On the front of his cap in big letters was “Carp No. 1.” He wore it proudly, Frank Ledwein did. He earned it. For better than 30 years, Ledwein took the brunt of carp jokes and carp insults from carp hecklers. “And you know what,” his widow, Harriet, said “he never got mad about all the ribbing. Deep down I think he was proud of the record, and why shouldn’t he be?” Indeed. Frank Ledwein in 1952 achieved what other fisherman has been able to match. He caught on July 10 the world’s record carp, a 55-pound, 5-ounce beauty on Clearwater Lake near his home in Annandale. It’s a record that still stands. And the giant carp remains the only world class fish to come out of Minnesota waters. His world record carp, packed in ice, was displayed at giant expositions in Chicago and New York. When it was time to get the carp back, Ledwein said he didn’t want it. He was offered all-expense paid trips to world champion carp-catching contests. He turned ‘em all down. His business was selling bait fish. “But I don’t have any signs in my store and I don’t