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LakeQuality

Brindled madtom Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 4 lakes

Brindled madtom is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 4 lakes carry documentation. Brindled madtom is narrowly distributed — only 0 Minnesota lakes and 4 Wisconsin lakes have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

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 Brindled madtom lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Brindled madtom documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

4
Total Lakes
0
Minnesota
4
Wisconsin
B
Avg. Grade

Water Quality of Brindled madtom Lakes

A
0
0%
B
3
75%
C
0
0%
D
1
25%
F
0
0%

Best Brindled madtom Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with brindled madtom ranked by overall water quality grade.

RankLakeCountyStateGradeDepthSpecies
1Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter TownshipWashtenawMIB-26
2Base Line LakeWashtenawMIB-1
3Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg TownshipLivingstonMIB-16
4Union LakeBranchMID-22

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have brindled madtom?

Brindled madtom are found in 4 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 4 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with brindled madtom is B (Good).

What are the best lakes for brindled madtom?

The best brindled madtom lakes by water quality are Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township, Base Line Lake, Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township, Union Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where brindled madtom have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with brindled madtom?

Brindled madtom are most commonly found alongside bluntnose minnow, brook silverside, johnny darter, lake herring, mimic shiner. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.