Redhorse Fishing Guide: 24 Lakes by Water Quality

Rough fish like Redhorse are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 24 the United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs. LakeQuality covers lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Redhorse is narrowly distributed — only 24 lakes in Minnesota 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 Redhorse lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Redhorse documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota lakes →

64 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Redhorse Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with redhorse, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Clearwater Lake	Clearwater	MN	65 ft	14
2	Bemidji Lake	Beltrami	MN	76 ft	16
3	Plantagenet Lake	Hubbard	MN	65 ft	20
4	Three Island Lake	Beltrami	MN	25 ft	17
5	Movil Lake	Beltrami	MN	50 ft	20
6	Cass Lake	Beltrami	MN	120 ft	21
7	Big Sandy Lake	Aitkin	MN	84 ft	22
8	Turtle River Lake	Beltrami	MN	63 ft	20
9	Marquette Lake	Beltrami	MN	51 ft	18
10	Drewery Lake	Beltrami	MN	120 ft	21
11	Charley Lake	Ramsey	MN	21 ft	20
12	Zumbro Lake	Olmsted	MN	43 ft	24
13	Emily Lake	Pope	MN	6 ft	26
14	Upper Red Lake	Beltrami	MN	15 ft	15
15	Little Sauk Lake	Todd	MN	29 ft	17
16	Horseshoe Lake	Stearns	MN	57 ft	25
17	Long Lake	Stearns	MN	35 ft	23
18	Peltier Lake	Anoka	MN	18 ft	16
19	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	MN	80 ft	16
20	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	MN	161 ft	17
21	Sand Point Lake	St. Louis	MN	184 ft	21
22	Crane Lake	St. Louis	MN	80 ft	12
23	Pepin Lake	Pepin	MN	60 ft	47
24	Becker Lake	Stearns	MN	20 ft	18

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have redhorse?

Redhorse are documented in 24 lakes: 24 in Minnesota.

What are the best lakes for redhorse?

The best redhorse lakes by water quality are Clearwater Lake, Bemidji Lake, Plantagenet Lake, Three Island Lake, Movil Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where redhorse have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with redhorse?

Redhorse are most commonly found alongside black crappie, northern pike, redhorse, walleye, yellow perch. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Redhorse Lakes

Black Crappie Lakes

Found together in 24 lakes · 1,386 total

Northern Pike Lakes

Found together in 24 lakes · 2,386 total

Walleye Lakes

Found together in 24 lakes · 1,884 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 24 lakes · 1,577 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 23 lakes · 1,550 total

White Sucker Lakes

Found together in 23 lakes · 1,211 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.