splake Lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin & Michigan
Other SpeciesFound in 12 lakes
Rough fish like splake are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 12 Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. splake is narrowly distributed — only 12 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 splake lake list below against the LakeGrade rubric: lakes with both an A or B grade and splake documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.
Water Quality of splake Lakes
Best splake Lakes by Water Quality
Top 50 lakes with splake ranked by overall water quality grade.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tofte Lake | Lake | MN | A | 73 ft | 3 |
| 2 | Kemo Lake | Cook | MN | A | 65 ft | 3 |
| 3 | Larson Lake | Itasca | MN | A | 177 ft | 6 |
| 4 | Erskine Lake | Itasca | MN | A | 56 ft | 3 |
| 5 | Long Lake | Aitkin | MN | B | 116 ft | 16 |
| 6 | Portage Lake | Cook | MN | B | 55 ft | 3 |
| 7 | Divide Lake | Lake | MN | B | 22 ft | 3 |
| 8 | Bean Lake | Lake | MN | B | 26 ft | 3 |
| 9 | Beaver Hut Lake | Lake | MN | B | 12 ft | 4 |
| 10 | Iron Lake | Cook | MN | B | 19 ft | 8 |
| 11 | Esther Lake | Cook | MN | C | 35 ft | 3 |
| 12 | Upper Estuary Lake | St. Louis | MN | D | 55 ft | 33 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have splake?
splake are found in 12 graded lakes: 12 in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of lakes with splake is B (Good).
What are the best lakes for splake?
The best splake lakes by water quality are Tofte Lake, Kemo Lake, Larson Lake, Erskine Lake, Long Lake. These lakes have the highest water quality grades among all lakes where splake have been documented by state DNR surveys.
What other fish are found with splake?
splake are most commonly found alongside white sucker, rainbow trout, yellow perch, northern pike, black bullhead. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Other Fish Species in splake Lakes
Found together in 12 lakes · 121 total
Found together in 6 lakes · 14 total
Found together in 5 lakes · 113 total
Found together in 4 lakes · 99 total
Found together in 3 lakes · 28 total
Found together in 3 lakes · 145 total
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.