Brown trout Lakes in North Dakota
Found in 4 North Dakota lakes · 3 in Michigan
Rough fish like Brown trout are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 3 North Dakota lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Brown trout is narrowly distributed — only 3 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 Brown trout lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Brown trout documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Brown trout Lakes Map
Every North Dakota lake with documented brown trout, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Brown trout Lakes in North Dakota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake | Ward | B | 13.6 ft | 23.2 ft |
| 2 | Kota Ray Dam Lake | Williams | B | 7.7 ft | 26.2 ft |
| 3 | North Lemmon Lake | Adams | B | 5.7 ft | 31.4 ft |
| 4 | Sheep Creek Dam Lake | Grant | D | 2.7 ft | 33 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many North Dakota lakes have brown trout?
Brown trout are found in 4 lakes in North Dakota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best brown trout lakes in North Dakota?
The best brown trout lakes in North Dakota by water quality are Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake, Kota Ray Dam Lake, North Lemmon Lake, Sheep Creek Dam Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.