gizzard shad Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 15 lakes

gizzard shad is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 15 lakes carry documentation. gizzard shad is narrowly distributed — only 15 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 gizzard shad lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and gizzard shad documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Avg. Grade

55 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of gizzard shad Lakes

47%

27%

20%

Best gizzard shad Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with gizzard shad ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	B	78 ft	36
2	St. Croix Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
3	St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
4	Pool of Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
5	Pool on Lake St. Croix Downstream of I94 Bridge	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
6	Pool on Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
7	St. Croix 3.5 Mi. Downstream of E Chestnut St Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
8	St. Croix 0.3 Mi. Downstream of I Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
9	Pickerel Lake	Dakota	MN	D	11 ft	15
10	Little Spirit Lake	Jackson	MN	D	8 ft	23
11	Winona Lake	Winona	MN	D	38 ft	24
12	Madison Lake	Blue Earth	MN	D	59 ft	20
13	Pepin Lake	Pepin	MN	F	60 ft	47
14	Spring Lake	Dakota	MN	F	17 ft	21
15	Little Tuttle Lake	Martin	MN	F	7 ft	20

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have gizzard shad?

gizzard shad are found in 15 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 15 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with gizzard shad is D (Poor).

What are the best lakes for gizzard shad?

The best gizzard shad lakes by water quality are Lake St. Croix, St. Croix Lake, St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake, Pool of Lake St. Croix, Pool on Lake St. Croix Downstream of I94 Bridge. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where gizzard shad have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with gizzard shad?

gizzard shad are most commonly found alongside black crappie, common carp, freshwater drum, northern pike, bluegill. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.