Greater Redhorse Fishing Guide: 61 Lakes by Water Quality

Rough fish like Greater Redhorse are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 61 the United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs. LakeQuality covers lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Greater Redhorse is narrowly distributed — only 60 lakes in Minnesota and 1 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 phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Greater Redhorse lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Greater Redhorse documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota lakes →

Michigan lakes →

58 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Greater Redhorse Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with greater redhorse, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Lower Hay Lake	Crow Wing	MN	100 ft	21
2	Little Birch Lake	Todd	MN	89 ft	20
3	Whitefish Lake	Crow Wing	MN	138 ft	23
4	Washburn Lake	Cass	MN	111 ft	21
5	Ossawinnamakee Lake	Crow Wing	MN	63 ft	18
6	Eagle Lake	Hubbard	MN	77 ft	16
7	Little Pine Lake	Crow Wing	MN	36 ft	18
8	Norway Lake	Cass	MN	12 ft	14
9	Andrusia Lake	Beltrami	MN	60 ft	21
10	Bass Lake	Crow Wing	MN	47 ft	14
11	Island Lake	Hubbard	MN	65 ft	16
12	Lawrence Lake	Cass	MN	71 ft	16
13	Two Inlets Lake	Becker	MN	60 ft	15
14	Inguadona Lake	Cass	MN	79 ft	20
15	Roosevelt Lake	Cass	MN	129 ft	18
16	Big Trout Lake	Crow Wing	MN	128 ft	20
17	Broadwater Bay Lake	Cass	MN	54 ft	22
18	Wolf Lake	Beltrami	MN	57 ft	18
19	Le Homme Dieu Lake	Douglas	MN	85 ft	20
20	Hattie Lake	Cass	MN	30 ft	14
21	Boy Lake	Cass	MN	45 ft	20
22	Bertha Lake	Crow Wing	MN	64 ft	22
23	Fourth Crow Wing Lake	Hubbard	MN	10 ft	16
24	Carlos Lake	Douglas	MN	163 ft	21
25	Cooper Lake	Cass	MN	70 ft	12
26	Lasalle Lake	Hubbard	MN	213 ft	15
27	Cass Lake	Beltrami	MN	120 ft	21
28	Third Crow Wing Lake	Hubbard	MN	35 ft	18
29	Big Wolf Lake	Hubbard	MN	57 ft	18
30	Tamarack Lake	Livingston	MI	34 ft	20
31	Upper South Long Lake	Crow Wing	MN	47 ft	16
32	Irving Lake	Beltrami	MN	19 ft	20
33	Mitchell Lake	Crow Wing	MN	78 ft	18
34	Upper Twin Lake	Hubbard	MN	12 ft	18
35	Daggett Lake	Crow Wing	MN	23 ft	21
36	East Leaf Lake	Otter Tail	MN	43 ft	19
37	Drewery Lake	Beltrami	MN	120 ft	21
38	Big Rice Lake	Beltrami	MN	13 ft	14
39	Margaret Lake	Cass	MN	26 ft	17
40	Emily Lake	Pope	MN	6 ft	26
41	Krays Lake	Stearns	MN	40 ft	15
42	Lower Twin Lake	Wadena	MN	26 ft	21
43	Horseshoe Lake	Stearns	MN	57 ft	25
44	Long Lake	Stearns	MN	35 ft	23
45	Knife Lake	Kanabec	MN	15 ft	19
46	Cedar Island Lake	Stearns	MN	75 ft	22
47	Knaus Lake	Stearns	MN	20 ft	17
48	Bolfing Lake	Stearns	MN	36 ft	16
49	Cokato Lake	Wright	MN	52 ft	20
50	Fish Lake	Kanabec	MN	8 ft	21

Showing top 50 of 61 lakes with greater redhorse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have greater redhorse?

Greater Redhorse are documented in 61 lakes: 60 in Minnesota, 1 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for greater redhorse?

The best greater redhorse lakes by water quality are Lower Hay Lake, Little Birch Lake, Whitefish Lake, Washburn Lake, Ossawinnamakee Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where greater redhorse have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with greater redhorse?

Greater Redhorse are most commonly found alongside black crappie, bluegill, greater redhorse, northern pike, yellow perch. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Greater Redhorse Lakes

Black Crappie Lakes

Found together in 60 lakes · 1,386 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 60 lakes · 1,550 total

Northern Pike Lakes

Found together in 60 lakes · 2,386 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 60 lakes · 1,577 total

Largemouth Bass Lakes

Found together in 59 lakes · 2,489 total

Pumpkinseed Lakes

Found together in 59 lakes · 1,328 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.