mooneye Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Other SpeciesFound in 14 lakes
mooneye is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 14 lakes carry documentation. mooneye is narrowly distributed — only 14 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 mooneye lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and mooneye documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Water Quality of mooneye Lakes
Best mooneye Lakes by Water Quality
Top 50 lakes with mooneye ranked by overall water quality grade.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake St. Croix | Washington | MN | B | 78 ft | 36 |
| 2 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | MN | C | 184 ft | 21 |
| 3 | St. Croix Lake | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 4 | St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 5 | Pool of Lake St. Croix | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 6 | Pool on Lake St. Croix Downstream of I94 Bridge | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 7 | Pool on Lake St. Croix | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 8 | St. Croix 3.5 Mi. Downstream of E Chestnut St Lake | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 9 | St. Croix 0.3 Mi. Downstream of I Lake | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 10 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | MN | D | 184 ft | 21 |
| 11 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | MN | D | 184 ft | 21 |
| 12 | Winona Lake | Winona | MN | D | 38 ft | 24 |
| 13 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | MN | F | 60 ft | 47 |
| 14 | Spring Lake | Dakota | MN | F | 17 ft | 21 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have mooneye?
mooneye are found in 14 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 14 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with mooneye is D (Poor).
What are the best lakes for mooneye?
The best mooneye lakes by water quality are Lake St. Croix, Sand Point Lake, St. Croix Lake, St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake, Pool of Lake St. Croix. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where mooneye have been documented by state DNR surveys.
What other fish are found with mooneye?
mooneye are most commonly found alongside black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.