Sauger Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 13 Minnesota lakes · 3 in Michigan
Sauger is a primary Minnesota sport-fishing target. 16 lakes have an official record of the species — the actual population almost certainly extends further, since not every lake gets a full DNR fishery survey every year. Sauger is narrowly distributed — only 13 lakes in Minnesota and 3 in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Game-fish presence on a Minnesota lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. The Sauger lakes with the lowest nutrient and algae readings tend to be the ones where the species does best, since the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions support both.
Sauger Lakes Map
Every Minnesota lake with documented sauger.
Best Sauger Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake St Croix | Pierce | 7.2 ft | 78 ft |
| 2 | Pool | Washington | 5.9 ft | 78 ft |
| 3 | Pool of Lake St Croix | Washington | 4.3 ft | 78 ft |
| 4 | Kabetogama Lake | St. Louis | 4.4 ft | 80 ft |
| 5 | Rainy Lake | Koochiching | 7.5 ft | 161 ft |
| 6 | Sand Point Lake | St. Louis | 6.6 ft | 184 ft |
| 7 | Agnes Lake | St. Louis | 11 ft | 30 ft |
| 8 | Crane Lake | St. Louis | 6.3 ft | 80 ft |
| 9 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | 3 ft | 60 ft |
| 10 | Spring Lake | Dakota | 2.1 ft | 17 ft |
| 11 | Lac la Croix Lake | St. Louis | 8 ft | 168 ft |
| 12 | Lac la Croix Lake | St. Louis | 2.5 ft | 30 ft |
| 13 | Iron Lake | St. Louis | 5 ft | 64 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have sauger?
Sauger are found in 13 lakes in Minnesota.
What are the best sauger lakes in Minnesota?
The best sauger lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Lake St Croix, Pool, Pool of Lake St Croix, Kabetogama Lake, Rainy Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.