Redhorse Fishing Guide

Other SpeciesDocumented in 33 graded lakes across 1 state

Rough fish like Redhorse are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 33 the 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces LakeQuality covers lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Redhorse is narrowly distributed — only 33 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 grade on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Redhorse lake list below against the letter grades: lakes with both an A or B grade and Redhorse documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota lakes →

Avg. Grade

66 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of Redhorse Lakes

21%

18%

21%

Best Redhorse Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with redhorse ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Clearwater Lake	Clearwater	MN	A	65 ft	14
2	Bemidji Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	76 ft	16
3	Plantagenet Lake	Hubbard	MN	A	65 ft	20
4	Three Island Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	25 ft	17
5	Movil Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	50 ft	20
6	Cass Lake Allens Bay	Beltrami	MN	A	120 ft	21
7	Cass Lake	Beltrami	MN	A	120 ft	21
8	Upper Red Lake: West-Central	Beltrami	MN	C	15 ft	15
9	Big Sandy Lake	Aitkin	MN	C	84 ft	22
10	Turtle River Lake	Beltrami	MN	C	63 ft	20
11	Upper Red Lake: East Central	Beltrami	MN	C	15 ft	15
12	Marquette Lake	Beltrami	MN	C	51 ft	18
13	Drewery Lake	Beltrami	MN	C	120 ft	21
14	Charley Lake	Ramsey	MN	D	21 ft	20
15	Zumbro Lake	Olmsted	MN	D	43 ft	24
16	Emily Lake	Pope	MN	D	6 ft	26
17	Upper Red Lake: East	Beltrami	MN	D	15 ft	15
18	Upper Red Lake: West	Beltrami	MN	D	15 ft	15
19	Upper Red Lake: Central	Beltrami	MN	D	15 ft	15
20	Little Sauk Lake	Todd	MN	D	29 ft	17
21	Horseshoe Lake	Stearns	MN	F	57 ft	25
22	Long Lake	Stearns	MN	F	35 ft	23
23	Peltier Lake	Anoka	MN	F	18 ft	16
24	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	80 ft	16
25	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	MN	NR	161 ft	17
26	Rainy Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	161 ft	17
27	Namakan Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	150 ft	18
28	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	80 ft	16
29	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	80 ft	16
30	Sand Point Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	184 ft	21
31	Crane Lake	St. Louis	MN	NR	80 ft	12
32	Pepin Lake	Pepin	MN	NR	60 ft	47
33	Becker Lake	Stearns	MN	NR	20 ft	18

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have redhorse?

Redhorse are found in 33 graded lakes: 33 in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of lakes with redhorse is C (Fair).

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 have the highest water quality grades 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 33 lakes · 1,428 total

Northern Pike Lakes

Found together in 33 lakes · 2,487 total

Walleye Lakes

Found together in 33 lakes · 1,982 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 33 lakes · 1,631 total

White Sucker Lakes

Found together in 32 lakes · 1,256 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 31 lakes · 1,601 total

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