Bowfin (Dogfish) Lakes in Minnesota

Found in 634 Minnesota lakes

Bowfin (Dogfish) is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 634 lakes carry documentation. Bowfin (Dogfish) is widely distributed: 634 lakes in Minnesota. That breadth means anglers across most of the coverage area can find a documented Bowfin (Dogfish) lake within a reasonable drive.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Bowfin (Dogfish) lake list below against the letter grades: lakes with both an A or B grade and Bowfin (Dogfish) documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

634

Minnesota Lakes

Avg. Grade

243

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Bowfin (Dogfish) Lakes Map

Every Minnesota lake with documented bowfin (dogfish), colored by water-quality grade.

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Best Bowfin (Dogfish) Lakes in Minnesota

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Lobster Lake	Douglas	A	13 ft	65 ft
2	East Fox Lake	Crow Wing	A	16.4 ft	65 ft
3	Clearwater Lake	Wright	A	9.8 ft	73 ft
4	Clearwater Lake	Crow Wing	A	13 ft	54 ft
5	Lower Hay Lake	Crow Wing	A	18.5 ft	100 ft
6	Latoka Lake	Douglas	A	19 ft	108 ft
7	Little Birch Lake	Todd	A	13 ft	89 ft
8	North Long Lake	Crow Wing	A	15.1 ft	97 ft
9	Mud Lake	Becker	A	12.5 ft	34 ft
10	Big Lake	Beltrami	A	9.7 ft	35 ft
11	Big Lake	Sherburne	A	13.6 ft	48 ft
12	Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	A	16.4 ft	55 ft
13	Pelican Lake	Crow Wing	A	14.3 ft	104 ft
14	Birch Lake	Cass	A	14 ft	45 ft
15	Round Lake	Aitkin	A	14.5 ft	125 ft
16	Round Lake	Crow Wing	A	13.5 ft	51 ft
17	Round Lake	Becker	A	10 ft	69 ft
18	Ada Lake	Cass	A	14 ft	60 ft
19	Whitefish Lake	Crow Wing	A	14.4 ft	138 ft
20	Washburn Lake	Cass	A	14.1 ft	111 ft
21	Long Lake	Kandiyohi	A	10.5 ft	46 ft
22	Long Lake	Otter Tail	A	12.3 ft	128 ft
23	Long Lake	Becker	A	19.5 ft	61 ft
24	Long Lake	Hubbard	A	11.2 ft	135 ft
25	Long Lake	Otter Tail	A	11.6 ft	73 ft
26	Long Lake	Itasca	A	16.9 ft	85 ft
27	Dead Lake	Otter Tail	A	10.2 ft	65 ft
28	Maple Lake	Douglas	A	14.1 ft	78 ft
29	Maple Lake	Itasca	A	15.3 ft	39 ft
30	Sallie Lake	Becker	A	13 ft	50 ft
31	Deer Lake	Beltrami	A	11 ft	42 ft
32	Deer Lake	Otter Tail	A	12.3 ft	26 ft
33	Deer Lake	Itasca	A	13.1 ft	121 ft
34	Chippewa Lake	Douglas	A	14.8 ft	95 ft
35	Otter Lake	Ramsey	A	11.5 ft	21 ft
36	Lida Lake	Otter Tail	A	14 ft	58 ft
37	Cowdry Lake	Douglas	A	17.1 ft	52 ft
38	Big Spunk Lake	Stearns	A	10 ft	38 ft
39	Ossawinnamakee Lake	Crow Wing	A	20 ft	63 ft
40	Florida Lake	Kandiyohi	A	12.3 ft	40 ft
41	Clear Lake	Crow Wing	A	18 ft	63 ft
42	Sullivan Lake	Morrison	A	10.8 ft	57 ft
43	West Fox Lake	Crow Wing	A	15 ft	55 ft
44	Darling Lake	Douglas	A	14 ft	62 ft
45	Ida Lake	Douglas	A	16.4 ft	106 ft
46	Ida Lake	Wright	A	13.1 ft	60 ft
47	Star Lake	Otter Tail	A	17 ft	94 ft
48	Upper Maple Lake	Wright	A	17.2 ft	76 ft
49	Fish Lake	Otter Tail	A	18 ft	69 ft
50	Fish Lake	Chisago	A	9.4 ft	57 ft

Showing top 50 of 634 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Minnesota lakes have bowfin (dogfish)?

Bowfin (Dogfish) are found in 634 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).

What are the best bowfin (dogfish) lakes in Minnesota?

The best bowfin (dogfish) lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Lobster Lake, East Fox Lake, Clearwater Lake, Clearwater Lake, Lower Hay Lake.

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.