quillback Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 27 Minnesota lakes
quillback is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 27 lakes carry documentation. quillback is narrowly distributed — only 27 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 quillback lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and quillback documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Best quillback Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake St. Croix | Washington | B | 5.2 ft | 78 ft |
| 2 | St. Croix Lake | Washington | C | 8.7 ft | 78 ft |
| 3 | St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake | Washington | C | 9.4 ft | 78 ft |
| 4 | Upper Red Lake: West-Central | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 5 | Upper Red Lake: East | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 6 | Upper Red Lake: West | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 7 | Upper Red Lake: East Central | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 8 | Upper Red Lake: Central | Beltrami | C | 6.6 ft | 15 ft |
| 9 | Pool of Lake St. Croix | Washington | C | 4.3 ft | 78 ft |
| 10 | Pool on Lake St. Croix Downstream of I94 Bridge | Washington | C | 5 ft | 78 ft |
| 11 | Pool on Lake St. Croix | Washington | C | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 12 | St. Croix 3.5 Mi. Downstream of E Chestnut St Lake | Washington | C | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 13 | St. Croix 0.3 Mi. Downstream of I Lake | Washington | C | 6.1 ft | 78 ft |
| 14 | Zumbro Lake | Olmsted | D | 3.9 ft | 43 ft |
| 15 | Little Spirit Lake | Jackson | D | 3.3 ft | 8 ft |
| 16 | Madison Lake | Blue Earth | D | 3.6 ft | 59 ft |
| 17 | Round Lake | Jackson | D | 2 ft | 9 ft |
| 18 | Budd Lake | Martin | F | 2.6 ft | 23 ft |
| 19 | Emily Lake | Pope | F | 2 ft | 6 ft |
| 20 | Hall Lake | Martin | F | 2.6 ft | 27 ft |
| 21 | Sisseton Lake | Martin | F | 2.5 ft | 19 ft |
| 22 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | F | 3 ft | 60 ft |
| 23 | Spring Lake | Dakota | F | 2.1 ft | 17 ft |
| 24 | Amber Lake | Martin | F | 2 ft | 19 ft |
| 25 | East Toqua Lake | Big Stone | F | 1.6 ft | 9 ft |
| 26 | Little Tuttle Lake | Martin | F | 1 ft | 7 ft |
| 27 | Byllesby Lake | Dakota | F | 3 ft | 50 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have quillback?
quillback are found in 27 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is D (Poor).
What are the best quillback lakes in Minnesota?
The best quillback lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Lake St. Croix, St. Croix Lake, St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake, Upper Red Lake: West-Central, Upper Red Lake: East.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.