Rainbow trout Lakes in North Dakota
Found in 19 North Dakota lakes · 14 in Michigan
Rough fish like Rainbow trout are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 14 North Dakota lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Rainbow trout is narrowly distributed — only 14 lakes 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 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.
Rainbow trout Lakes Map
Every North Dakota lake with documented rainbow trout, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Rainbow trout Lakes in North Dakota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qacmainstfbk Lake | Mercer | A | - | - |
| 2 | Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake | Ward | B | 13.6 ft | 23.2 ft |
| 3 | Arroda Lake | Oliver | B | 6.7 ft | 36.7 ft |
| 4 | Kota Ray Dam Lake | Williams | B | 7.7 ft | 26.2 ft |
| 5 | Hooker Lake | Rolette | B | 12.2 ft | 25.4 ft |
| 6 | Qacmainstdup Lake | Mercer | B | - | - |
| 7 | Northgate Dam Lake | Burke | B | 9.4 ft | 23.6 ft |
| 8 | North Lemmon Lake | Adams | B | 5.7 ft | 31.4 ft |
| 9 | Lutz Dam Lake | Bowman | B | 14.4 ft | 12.6 ft |
| 10 | Kettle Lake | Williams | B | 5.3 ft | 35.8 ft |
| 11 | Mooreton Pond | Richland | C | 3 ft | 19.5 ft |
| 12 | Moon Lake | Barnes | C | 4.4 ft | 54.3 ft |
| 13 | Belfield Dam Lake | Stark | C | 3.8 ft | 16.3 ft |
| 14 | Harmony Lake | Mercer | C | 2.3 ft | 21.2 ft |
| 15 | E. A. Patterson Lake | Stark | D | 5.3 ft | 18.4 ft |
| 16 | Mcdowell Dam Lake | Burleigh | D | 1.6 ft | 39.6 ft |
| 17 | Castle Rock Dam Lake | Hettinger | D | 3.8 ft | 13.8 ft |
| 18 | Sheep Creek Dam Lake | Grant | D | 2.7 ft | 33 ft |
| 19 | Stanley Reservoir | Mountrail | D | 1.1 ft | 22.5 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many North Dakota lakes have rainbow trout?
Rainbow trout are found in 19 lakes in North Dakota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best rainbow trout lakes in North Dakota?
The best rainbow trout lakes in North Dakota by water quality are Qacmainstfbk Lake, Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake, Arroda Lake, Kota Ray Dam Lake, Hooker Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.