splake Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Other SpeciesFound in 10 lakes
Rough fish like splake are often associated with eutrophic, nutrient-loaded waters. Their presence — documented in 10 Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes — is often a signal of how the rest of the fishery is functioning. splake is narrowly distributed — only 10 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 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 | Divide Lake | Lake | MN | A | - | 3 |
| 5 | 16-0023-00 Lake | Cook | MN | A | 35 ft | 3 |
| 6 | Long Lake | Aitkin | MN | B | 116 ft | 16 |
| 7 | Portage Lake | Cook | MN | B | 55 ft | 3 |
| 8 | Esther Lake | Cook | MN | B | 35 ft | 3 |
| 9 | Bean Lake | Lake | MN | B | 26 ft | 3 |
| 10 | Beaver Hut Lake | Lake | MN | B | 12 ft | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have splake?
splake are found in 10 lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin, 10 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin. 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, Divide Lake, 16-0023-00 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, black bullhead, northern pike. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.