redhorse Lakes in Minnesota

Found in 49 Minnesota lakes

Rough fish like redhorse are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 49 Minnesota lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. redhorse is narrowly distributed — only 49 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 LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and redhorse documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Minnesota Lakes

Avg. Grade

Grade A Lakes

Counties

Best redhorse Lakes in Minnesota

Rank	Lake	County	Grade	Clarity	Depth
1	Cass Lake Allens Bay	Beltrami	A	16.6 ft	120 ft
2	Cass Lake	Beltrami	A	18.5 ft	120 ft
3	Clearwater Lake	Clearwater	A	10 ft	65 ft
4	Bemidji Lake	Beltrami	A	12.5 ft	76 ft
5	Three Island Lake	Beltrami	A	11.8 ft	25 ft
6	Movil Lake	Beltrami	A	14 ft	50 ft
7	Turtle River Lake	Beltrami	B	8.5 ft	63 ft
8	Namakan Lake	St. Louis	B	11.5 ft	150 ft
9	Plantagenet Lake	Hubbard	B	7 ft	65 ft
10	Marquette Lake	Beltrami	B	9.2 ft	51 ft
11	Drewery Lake	Beltrami	B	3.5 ft	120 ft
12	Namakan Lake	St. Louis	C	8.2 ft	150 ft
13	Rainy Lake	St. Louis	C	9.5 ft	161 ft
14	Sand Point Lake	St. Louis	C	7.5 ft	184 ft
15	Namakan Lake	St. Louis	C	9.8 ft	150 ft
16	Rainy Lake	St. Louis	C	7.2 ft	161 ft
17	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	C	7.7 ft	161 ft
18	Big Sandy Lake	Aitkin	C	4.5 ft	84 ft
19	Charley Lake	Ramsey	C	4.6 ft	21 ft
20	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	D	4.4 ft	80 ft
21	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	D	3.6 ft	161 ft
22	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	D	3.8 ft	80 ft
23	Rainy Lake	St. Louis	D	5.9 ft	161 ft
24	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	D	4.8 ft	80 ft
25	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	D	5.9 ft	80 ft
26	Sand Point Lake	St. Louis	D	6.6 ft	184 ft
27	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	D	6.6 ft	161 ft
28	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	D	4.9 ft	161 ft
29	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	D	3.6 ft	161 ft
30	Sand Point Lake	St. Louis	D	5.9 ft	184 ft
31	Rainy Lake	Koochiching	D	5.2 ft	161 ft
32	Crane Lake	St. Louis	D	6.6 ft	80 ft
33	Namakan Lake	St. Louis	D	4.1 ft	150 ft
34	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	D	5.9 ft	80 ft
35	Zumbro Lake	Olmsted	D	4 ft	43 ft
36	Upper Red Lake: West-Central	Beltrami	D	2 ft	15 ft
37	Upper Red Lake: East	Beltrami	D	2 ft	15 ft
38	Crane Lake	St. Louis	D	6 ft	80 ft
39	Upper Red Lake: West	Beltrami	D	2 ft	15 ft
40	Upper Red Lake: East Central	Beltrami	D	2 ft	15 ft
41	Upper Red Lake: Central	Beltrami	D	2 ft	15 ft
42	Little Sauk Lake	Todd	D	5.1 ft	29 ft
43	Becker Lake	Stearns	D	5.7 ft	20 ft
44	Horseshoe Lake	Stearns	D	4 ft	57 ft
45	Kabetogama Lake	St. Louis	F	2.6 ft	80 ft
46	Long Lake	Stearns	F	2.5 ft	35 ft
47	Peltier Lake	Anoka	F	2.5 ft	18 ft
48	Emily Lake	Pope	F	2 ft	6 ft
49	Pepin Lake	Pepin	F	3 ft	60 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Minnesota lakes have redhorse?

redhorse are found in 49 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).

What are the best redhorse lakes in Minnesota?

The best redhorse lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Cass Lake Allens Bay, Cass Lake, Clearwater Lake, Bemidji Lake, Three Island Lake.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.