Splake Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 12 Minnesota lakes
Trout species like Splake need cold, oxygen-rich water year-round — that constraint limits Splake to 12 lakes in Minnesota, mostly the deeper or spring-fed basins. 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.
Trout presence is itself a water-quality signal: a Minnesota lake that supports a Splake population is almost certainly running cold enough and oxygenated enough to also support healthier overall water quality. Trout-supporting lakes almost always carry low nutrient and algae readings, because the cold, deep, well-oxygenated conditions trout need produce clear, low-phosphorus water almost as a side effect.
Splake Lakes Map
Every Minnesota lake with documented splake.
Best Splake Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portage Lake | Cook | 8.5 ft | 55 ft |
| 2 | Bean Lake | Lake | 9.8 ft | 26 ft |
| 3 | Iron Lake | Cook | 4.9 ft | 19 ft |
| 4 | Erskine Lake | Itasca | 18 ft | 56 ft |
| 5 | Larson Lake | Itasca | 21 ft | 177 ft |
| 6 | Upper Estuary Lake | St. Louis | 1.9 ft | 55 ft |
| 7 | Long Lake | Aitkin | 10.8 ft | 116 ft |
| 8 | Tofte Lake | Lake | 18.5 ft | 73 ft |
| 9 | Esther Lake | Cook | 9.5 ft | 35 ft |
| 10 | Kemo Lake | Cook | 17 ft | 65 ft |
| 11 | Divide Lake | Lake | 10.1 ft | 22 ft |
| 12 | Beaver Hut Lake | Lake | 3.4 ft | 12 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have splake?
Splake are found in 12 lakes in Minnesota.
What are the best splake lakes in Minnesota?
The best splake lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Portage Lake, Bean Lake, Iron Lake, Erskine Lake, Larson Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.