Bowfin (Dogfish) Lakes in Minnesota, 608 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. 608 lakes carry documentation. Bowfin (Dogfish) is widely distributed: 608 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 phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings 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 each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Bowfin (Dogfish) documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

608

Minnesota Lakes

Counties

Bowfin (Dogfish) Lakes Map

Every Minnesota lake with documented bowfin (dogfish).

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Best Bowfin (Dogfish) Lakes in Minnesota

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

Showing top 50 of 608 lakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Minnesota lakes have bowfin (dogfish)?

Bowfin (Dogfish) are found in 608 lakes in Minnesota.

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 readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.