River Redhorse Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 15 Minnesota lakes
River Redhorse is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 15 lakes carry documentation. River Redhorse is narrowly distributed — only 15 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 River Redhorse lake list below against the letter grades: lakes with both an A or B grade and River Redhorse documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
River Redhorse Lakes Map
Every Minnesota lake with documented river redhorse, colored by water-quality grade.
Best River Redhorse Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake St Croix | Pierce | B | 7.2 ft | 78 ft |
| 2 | Third Crow Wing Lake | Hubbard | B | 2.5 ft | 35 ft |
| 3 | Pool | Washington | B | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 4 | Koronis Lake | Stearns | C | 6 ft | 132 ft |
| 5 | Upper Twin Lake | Hubbard | C | 6.9 ft | 12 ft |
| 6 | Pool of Lake St Croix | Washington | C | 4.3 ft | 78 ft |
| 7 | Round Lake | Jackson | D | 2 ft | 9 ft |
| 8 | Zumbro Lake | Olmsted | D | 4 ft | 43 ft |
| 9 | Emily Lake | Pope | D | 2 ft | 6 ft |
| 10 | Lower Twin Lake | Wadena | D | 6.9 ft | 26 ft |
| 11 | Horseshoe Lake | Stearns | F | 4 ft | 57 ft |
| 12 | Cedar Island Lake | Stearns | F | 3.5 ft | 75 ft |
| 13 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | NR | 3 ft | 60 ft |
| 14 | Second Crow Wing Lake | Hubbard | NR | 11.3 ft | 35 ft |
| 15 | Talcot Lake | Cottonwood | NR | 0.2 ft | 6 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have river redhorse?
River Redhorse are found in 15 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best river redhorse lakes in Minnesota?
The best river redhorse lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Lake St Croix, Third Crow Wing Lake, Pool, Koronis Lake, Upper Twin Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.