lake sturgeon Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 41 Minnesota lakes
Rough fish like lake sturgeon are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 41 Minnesota lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. lake sturgeon is narrowly distributed — only 41 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 lake sturgeon lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and lake sturgeon documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Best lake sturgeon Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round Lake | Becker | A | 10.8 ft | 69 ft |
| 2 | Detroit Lake | Becker | A | 14 ft | 89 ft |
| 3 | Otter Tail Lake | Otter Tail | A | 12.1 ft | 120 ft |
| 4 | White Earth Lake | Becker | A | 14.5 ft | 120 ft |
| 5 | Many Point Lake | Becker | A | 10.7 ft | 92 ft |
| 6 | Deer Lake | Otter Tail | B | 11.5 ft | 26 ft |
| 7 | East Lost Lake | Otter Tail | B | 12.5 ft | 26 ft |
| 8 | Namakan Lake | St. Louis | B | 11.5 ft | 150 ft |
| 9 | Wright Lake | Otter Tail | B | 13.7 ft | 32 ft |
| 10 | Hoot Lake | Otter Tail | B | 11.7 ft | 20 ft |
| 11 | Lake St. Croix | Washington | B | 5.2 ft | 78 ft |
| 12 | Little Pine Lake | Otter Tail | B | 9.5 ft | 63 ft |
| 13 | Big Pine Lake | Otter Tail | B | 7 ft | 76 ft |
| 14 | Rush Lake | Otter Tail | B | 6.9 ft | 68 ft |
| 15 | Namakan Lake | St. Louis | C | 8.2 ft | 150 ft |
| 16 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | C | 7.5 ft | 184 ft |
| 17 | Namakan Lake | St. Louis | C | 9.8 ft | 150 ft |
| 18 | St. Croix Lake | Washington | C | 8.7 ft | 78 ft |
| 19 | St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake | Washington | C | 9.4 ft | 78 ft |
| 20 | Upper Red Lake: West-Central | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 21 | Upper Red Lake: East | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 22 | Upper Red Lake: West | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 23 | Upper Red Lake: East Central | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 24 | Upper Red Lake: Central | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 25 | Pool of Lake St. Croix | Washington | C | 4.3 ft | 78 ft |
| 26 | Pool on Lake St. Croix Downstream of I94 Bridge | Washington | C | 5 ft | 78 ft |
| 27 | Pool on Lake St. Croix | Washington | C | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 28 | St. Croix 3.5 Mi. Downstream of E Chestnut St Lake | Washington | C | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 29 | St. Croix 0.3 Mi. Downstream of I Lake | Washington | C | 6.1 ft | 78 ft |
| 30 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | D | 4.4 ft | 80 ft |
| 31 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | D | 3.8 ft | 80 ft |
| 32 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | D | 4.8 ft | 80 ft |
| 33 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | D | 5.9 ft | 80 ft |
| 34 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | D | 6.6 ft | 184 ft |
| 35 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | D | 5.9 ft | 184 ft |
| 36 | Namakan Lake | St. Louis | D | 4.1 ft | 150 ft |
| 37 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | D | 5.9 ft | 80 ft |
| 38 | Becker Lake | Becker | D | - | 120 ft |
| 39 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | F | 2.6 ft | 80 ft |
| 40 | Pokegama Lake | Pine | F | 2 ft | 25 ft |
| 41 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | F | 3 ft | 60 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have lake sturgeon?
lake sturgeon are found in 41 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best lake sturgeon lakes in Minnesota?
The best lake sturgeon lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Round Lake, Detroit Lake, Otter Tail Lake, White Earth Lake, Many Point Lake.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.