Rainbow Smelt Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 15 Minnesota lakes · 12 in Michigan
Rainbow Smelt 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. Rainbow Smelt is narrowly distributed — only 15 lakes in Minnesota and 12 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 Rainbow Smelt lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Rainbow Smelt documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Rainbow Smelt Lakes Map
Every Minnesota lake with documented rainbow smelt.
Best Rainbow Smelt Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trout Lake | Cook | 18.4 ft | 77 ft |
| 2 | Pokegama Lake | Itasca | 16.1 ft | 112 ft |
| 3 | Hungry Jack Lake | Cook | 18 ft | 71 ft |
| 4 | Burntside Lake | St. Louis | 16 ft | 126 ft |
| 5 | Gunflint Lake | Cook | 16.5 ft | 200 ft |
| 6 | Bearskin Lake | Cook | 21 ft | 78 ft |
| 7 | Upper Estuary Lake | St. Louis | 1.9 ft | 55 ft |
| 8 | Rainy Lake | Koochiching | 7.5 ft | 161 ft |
| 9 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | 6.6 ft | 184 ft |
| 10 | Little Long Lake | St. Louis | 21 ft | 45 ft |
| 11 | Lac la Croix Lake | St. Louis | 8 ft | 168 ft |
| 12 | Chester Lake | Cook | 11.9 ft | 35 ft |
| 13 | Little Gunflint Lake | Cook | 16.2 ft | 200 ft |
| 14 | Iron Chief Complex Lake | St. Louis | 24.5 ft | 262.1 ft |
| 15 | Gilbert Pit Lake | St. Louis | 11.5 ft | 443 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have rainbow smelt?
Rainbow Smelt are found in 15 lakes in Minnesota.
What are the best rainbow smelt lakes in Minnesota?
The best rainbow smelt lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Trout Lake, Pokegama Lake, Hungry Jack Lake, Burntside Lake, Gunflint Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.