Smallmouth Buffalo Lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Other SpeciesFound in 1 lakes
Rough fish like Smallmouth Buffalo are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 1 Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. Smallmouth Buffalo is narrowly distributed — only 1 lakes in North Dakota 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.
Water Quality of Smallmouth Buffalo Lakes
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 | Trenton Lake | Williams | ND | C | 8.1 ft | 11 |
| 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 | Washington | MN | C | 78 ft | 36 |
| 8 | Winona Lake | Winona | MN | D | 38 ft | 24 |
| 9 | Big Swan Lake | Meeker | MN | D | 32 ft | 23 |
| 10 | Long Lake | Stearns | MN | F | 35 ft | 23 |
| 11 | Duck Lake | Blue Earth | MN | F | 25 ft | 17 |
| 12 | Circle Lake | Rice | MN | F | 14 ft | 18 |
| 13 | Pepin Lake | Pepin | MN | F | 60 ft | 47 |
| 14 | Spring Lake | Dakota | MN | F | 17 ft | 21 |
| 15 | Little Tuttle Lake | Martin | MN | F | 7 ft | 20 |
| 16 | Titlow Lake | Sibley | MN | F | - | 8 |
| 17 | Bright Lake | Martin | MN | F | 7 ft | 20 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have smallmouth buffalo?
Smallmouth Buffalo are found in 1 graded lakes: 1 in North Dakota. The average water quality grade of lakes with smallmouth buffalo is C (Fair).
What are the best lakes for smallmouth buffalo?
The best smallmouth buffalo lakes by water quality are Lake St. Croix, St. Croix Lake, Trenton 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 common carp, northern pike, smallmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Other Fish Species in Smallmouth Buffalo Lakes
Found together in 16 lakes · 6 total
Found together in 16 lakes · 99 total
Found together in 15 lakes · 28 total
Found together in 15 lakes · 41 total
Found together in 15 lakes · 840 total
Found together in 13 lakes · 240 total
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.