smallmouth buffalo Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Other SpeciesFound in 18 lakes

Rough fish like smallmouth buffalo are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 18 Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. smallmouth buffalo is narrowly distributed — only 18 Minnesota lakes and 0 Wisconsin lakes 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 smallmouth buffalo lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and smallmouth buffalo documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Avg. Grade

50 ft

Avg. Depth

Water Quality of smallmouth buffalo Lakes

50%

17%

28%

Best smallmouth buffalo Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with smallmouth buffalo ranked by overall water quality grade.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Grade	Depth	Species
1	Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	B	78 ft	36
2	St. Croix Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
3	St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
4	Charley Lake	Ramsey	MN	C	21 ft	20
5	South Long Lake	Ramsey	MN	C	30 ft	12
6	Pool of Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
7	Pool on Lake St. Croix Downstream of I94 Bridge	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
8	Pool on Lake St. Croix	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
9	St. Croix 3.5 Mi. Downstream of E Chestnut St Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
10	St. Croix 0.3 Mi. Downstream of I Lake	Washington	MN	C	78 ft	36
11	Long Lake	Stearns	MN	D	35 ft	23
12	Winona Lake	Winona	MN	D	38 ft	24
13	Big Swan Lake	Meeker	MN	D	32 ft	23
14	Duck Lake	Blue Earth	MN	F	25 ft	17
15	Circle Lake	Rice	MN	F	14 ft	18
16	Pepin Lake	Pepin	MN	F	60 ft	47
17	Spring Lake	Dakota	MN	F	17 ft	21
18	Little Tuttle Lake	Martin	MN	F	7 ft	20

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have smallmouth buffalo?

smallmouth buffalo are found in 18 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 18 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin. The average water quality grade of lakes with smallmouth buffalo is D (Poor).

What are the best lakes for smallmouth buffalo?

The best smallmouth buffalo lakes by water quality are Lake St. Croix, St. Croix Lake, St. Croix 1.5 Mi. Upstream of Point Douglas Dr Lake, Charley Lake, South Long Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where smallmouth buffalo have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with smallmouth buffalo?

smallmouth buffalo are most commonly found alongside black crappie, common carp, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.