Lake herring Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Other SpeciesFound in 128 lakes
Lake herring is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 128 lakes carry documentation. Lake herring is moderately distributed — present in 0 Minnesota lakes and 128 Wisconsin lakes. Some counties have it, others do not, so checking the per-lake pages matters.
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 Lake herring lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and Lake herring documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Water Quality of Lake herring Lakes
Best Lake herring Lakes by Water Quality
Top 50 lakes with lake herring ranked by overall water quality grade.
Showing top 50 of 128 lakes with lake herring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have lake herring?
Lake herring are found in 128 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 0 in Minnesota and 128 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with lake herring is B (Good).
What are the best lakes for lake herring?
The best lake herring lakes by water quality are Glen Lake, Corey Lake, Glen Lake North Cent Basin; Glen Arbor Township Section 35, Corey Lake Southeastern Basin; Fabius Township, Smoky Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where lake herring have been documented by state DNR surveys.
What other fish are found with lake herring?
Lake herring are most commonly found alongside yellow perch, bluegill, largemouth bass, bluntnose minnow, pumpkinseed. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.