Tiger Muskellunge Lakes in Minnesota
Found in 18 Minnesota lakes
Tiger Muskellunge is one of the headline game-fish species in Minnesota — the kind of catch that anchors fishing trips, cabin weekends, and the regional fishing economy. 18 lakes in our dataset have documented Tiger Muskellunge. Tiger Muskellunge is narrowly distributed — only 18 lakes in Minnesota have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.
Game-fish presence on a Minnesota lake also signals enough water-quality stability to support the prey species the game fish depend on — perch, alewife, ciscoes — which themselves require reasonably oxygenated, clear water. On our A–F scale, the cleanest Tiger Muskellunge lakes tend to also be the highest-graded — the same water-clarity and nutrient conditions that support the species also produce the higher grades.
Tiger Muskellunge Lakes Map
Every Minnesota lake with documented tiger muskellunge, colored by water-quality grade.
Best Tiger Muskellunge Lakes in Minnesota
| Rank | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deer Lake | Itasca | A | 13.1 ft | 121 ft |
| 2 | Elmo Lake | Washington | A | 11.1 ft | 140 ft |
| 3 | Bryant Lake | Hennepin | C | 9.8 ft | 45 ft |
| 4 | Clear Lake | Washington | C | 6.2 ft | 28 ft |
| 5 | Crystal Lake | Dakota | C | 7 ft | 37 ft |
| 6 | Orchard Lake | Dakota | C | 5.9 ft | 33 ft |
| 7 | Upper Estuary Lake | St. Louis | C | 1.9 ft | 55 ft |
| 8 | Johanna Lake | Ramsey | D | 6.6 ft | 43 ft |
| 9 | Nokomis Lake | Hennepin | D | 4 ft | 33 ft |
| 10 | Kohlman Lake | Ramsey | D | 3.6 ft | 9 ft |
| 11 | Weaver Lake | Hennepin | D | 5 ft | 57 ft |
| 12 | Gervais Lake | Ramsey | D | 5 ft | 41 ft |
| 13 | Keller Lake | Ramsey | D | 4.3 ft | 8 ft |
| 14 | Crystal Lake | Hennepin | F | 3.5 ft | 39 ft |
| 15 | Moose Lake | Itasca | NR | 11.5 ft | 61 ft |
| 16 | Spider Lake | Itasca | NR | 10.5 ft | 36 ft |
| 17 | Taft Lake | Hennepin | NR | - | 45 ft |
| 18 | Crescent Lake | Cook | NR | 8 ft | 28 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota lakes have tiger muskellunge?
Tiger Muskellunge are found in 18 lakes in Minnesota. The average water quality grade of these lakes is C (Fair).
What are the best tiger muskellunge lakes in Minnesota?
The best tiger muskellunge lakes in Minnesota by water quality are Deer Lake, Elmo Lake, Bryant Lake, Clear Lake, Crystal Lake.
Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality grades from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys.