rainbow trout Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 19 Minnesota lakes
rainbow trout is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 19 lakes carry documentation. rainbow trout is narrowly distributed — only 19 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 rainbow trout lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and rainbow trout documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Best rainbow trout Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bad Medicine Lake | Becker | A | 25 ft | 84 ft |
| 2 | Birch Lake | Cook | A | 18 ft | 69 ft |
| 3 | Long Lake | Clearwater | A | 20 ft | 80 ft |
| 4 | Trout Lake | Cook | A | 19 ft | 77 ft |
| 5 | Blue Lake | Hubbard | A | 17.4 ft | 84 ft |
| 6 | Tofte Lake | Lake | A | 18.5 ft | 73 ft |
| 7 | Big Watab Lake | Stearns | A | 20.5 ft | 123 ft |
| 8 | Leo Lake | Cook | A | 15 ft | 28 ft |
| 9 | Mayhew Lake | Cook | A | 20.6 ft | 84 ft |
| 10 | St James Pit Lake | St. Louis | A | 47.6 ft | 381 ft |
| 11 | Divide Lake | Lake | A | 33.2 ft | - |
| 12 | 16-0023-00 Lake | Cook | A | 17 ft | 35 ft |
| 13 | 29-0237-00 Lake | Hubbard | A | 17.1 ft | 63 ft |
| 14 | Island Lake | Clearwater | A | 14.1 ft | 58 ft |
| 15 | Esther Lake | Cook | B | 10 ft | 35 ft |
| 16 | Bean Lake | Lake | B | 9.8 ft | 26 ft |
| 17 | Little Mud Lake | Meeker | C | 5.9 ft | 42 ft |
| 18 | Briar Lake | St. Louis | D | 6 ft | 21 ft |
| 19 | Loon Lake | Aitkin | D | 4 ft | 21 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have rainbow trout?
rainbow trout are found in 19 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is B (Good).
What are the best rainbow trout lakes in Minnesota?
The best rainbow trout lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Bad Medicine Lake, Birch Lake, Long Lake, Trout Lake, Blue Lake.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.