brook trout Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Other SpeciesFound in 14 lakes
Rough fish like brook trout are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 14 Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. brook trout is narrowly distributed — only 14 Minnesota lakes and 0 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 brook trout lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and brook trout documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Water Quality of brook trout Lakes
Best brook trout Lakes by Water Quality
Top 50 lakes with brook trout ranked by overall water quality grade.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pike Lake | Cook | MN | A | 45 ft | 7 |
| 2 | Trout Lake | Cook | MN | A | 77 ft | 6 |
| 3 | Rog Lake | Cook | MN | A | 40 ft | 4 |
| 4 | Cramer Lake | Lake | MN | A | 4 ft | 5 |
| 5 | Poplar Lake | Cook | MN | A | 30 ft | 3 |
| 6 | Kabekona Lake | Hubbard | MN | A | 133 ft | 20 |
| 7 | Greenwood Lake | Cook | MN | A | 112 ft | 10 |
| 8 | Gogebic Lake | Cook | MN | A | 61 ft | 2 |
| 9 | Found Lake | Lake | MN | B | 38 ft | 1 |
| 10 | Neglige Lake | Lake | MN | B | 58 ft | 1 |
| 11 | Skull Lake | Lake | MN | B | 38 ft | 3 |
| 12 | Lasalle Lake | Hubbard | MN | B | 213 ft | 15 |
| 13 | Lizz Lake | Cook | MN | C | 30 ft | 3 |
| 14 | South Lake | Cook | MN | C | 140 ft | 6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have brook trout?
brook trout are found in 14 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 14 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with brook trout is B (Good).
What are the best lakes for brook trout?
The best brook trout lakes by water quality are Pike Lake, Trout Lake, Rog Lake, Cramer Lake, Poplar Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where brook trout have been documented by state DNR surveys.
What other fish are found with brook trout?
brook trout are most commonly found alongside white sucker, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco). These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.