Brook trout Lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Other SpeciesFound in 12 lakes
Rough fish like Brook trout are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 12 Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Brook trout is narrowly distributed — only 12 lakes in Michigan 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 | Greenwood Lake | Cook | MN | A | 112 ft | 10 |
| 4 | Rog Lake | Cook | MN | A | 40 ft | 4 |
| 5 | South Lake | Cook | MN | A | 140 ft | 6 |
| 6 | Cramer Lake | Lake | MN | A | 4 ft | 5 |
| 7 | Blue Lake | Iron | MI | A | - | 3 |
| 8 | Higgins Lake Northwest Basin | Roscommon | MI | A | - | 12 |
| 9 | Poplar Lake | Cook | MN | A | 30 ft | 3 |
| 10 | Kabekona Lake | Hubbard | MN | A | 133 ft | 20 |
| 11 | Gogebic Lake | Cook | MN | A | 61 ft | 2 |
| 12 | Beaver Lake | Alger | MI | A | - | 14 |
| 13 | Duck Lake; Center of Deepest Basin; Fruitland Township | Muskegon | MI | A | - | 22 |
| 14 | Found Lake | Lake | MN | B | 38 ft | 1 |
| 15 | Skull Lake | Lake | MN | B | 38 ft | 3 |
| 16 | Neglige Lake | Lake | MN | B | 58 ft | 1 |
| 17 | Lasalle Lake | Hubbard | MN | B | 213 ft | 15 |
| 18 | Dragon Lake | Lake | MN | B | 15 ft | 10 |
| 19 | Beaver Lake | Keweenaw | MI | B | - | 16 |
| 20 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | MI | B | - | 22 |
| 21 | Blue Lake | Mecosta | MI | B | - | 3 |
| 22 | Stager Lake Central Basin | Iron | MI | B | - | 9 |
| 23 | Stager Lake | Iron | MI | B | - | 9 |
| 24 | Duck Lake North Basin; Watersmeet Township | Gogebic | MI | B | - | 16 |
| 25 | Lizz Lake | Cook | MN | C | 30 ft | 3 |
| 26 | Duck Lake | Gogebic | MI | C | - | 16 |
| 27 | Duck Lake | Muskegon | MI | C | - | 22 |
| 28 | Upper Estuary Lake | St. Louis | MN | D | 55 ft | 33 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have brook trout?
Brook trout are found in 12 graded lakes: 12 in Michigan. 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, Greenwood Lake, Rog Lake, South 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 brook trout, white sucker, white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Other Fish Species in Brook trout Lakes
Found together in 14 lakes · 121 total
Found together in 10 lakes · 121 total
Found together in 10 lakes · 113 total
Found together in 9 lakes · 99 total
Found together in 8 lakes · 113 total
Found together in 8 lakes · 171 total
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.