Best Musky Lakes in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Muskellunge, the fish of 10,000 casts, are the apex predators of northern lakes. These are the top musky lakes in MN and WI ranked by water quality grade. Healthy musky populations require clean, well-oxygenated water with abundant forage fish.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Clarity | Depth | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokegama Lake | Itasca | MN | A | 57.4 ft | 112 ft | 6721.3 ac |
| 2 | Big Sand Lake | Hubbard | MN | A | 23 ft | 135 ft | 1638.65 ac |
| 3 | North Star Lake | Itasca | MN | A | 19 ft | 90 ft | 831.62 ac |
| 4 | Miltona Lake | Douglas | MN | A | 18.8 ft | 105 ft | 5730.99 ac |
| 5 | West Battle Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | 18.2 ft | 108 ft | 5614.95 ac |
| 6 | Pickerel Lake | Becker | MN | A | 18 ft | 74 ft | 360.63 ac |
| 7 | Kabekona Bay Lake | Cass | MN | A | 17.2 ft | 150 ft | 103443.8 ac |
| 8 | Girl Lake | Cass | MN | A | 17 ft | 81 ft | 428.18 ac |
| 9 | Sugar Lake | Wright | MN | A | 17 ft | 69 ft | 1014.21 ac |
| 10 | Ida Lake | Douglas | MN | A | 16.5 ft | 106 ft | 4445.29 ac |
| 11 | Alexander Lake | Morrison | MN | A | 16.5 ft | 64 ft | 2708.77 ac |
| 12 | Lizzie Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | 16.4 ft | 66 ft | 1913.41 ac |
| 13 | Pelican Lake | Otter Tail | MN | A | 16.1 ft | 55 ft | 3961.78 ac |
| 14 | Pokegama Lake | Itasca | MN | A | 16 ft | 112 ft | 6721.3 ac |
| 15 | Mina Lake | Douglas | MN | A | 16 ft | 123 ft | 411.41 ac |
| 16 | Dumbbell Lake | Lake | MN | A | 15.8 ft | 40 ft | 406.11 ac |
| 17 | Andrusia Lake | Beltrami | MN | A | 15.5 ft | 60 ft | 1595.51 ac |
| 18 | Mons Lake | Todd | MN | A | 15.4 ft | 80 ft | 94.52 ac |
| 19 | White Bear Lake | Washington | MN | A | 15 ft | 83 ft | 2427.7 ac |
| 20 | Ml-Vineland Lake | Mille Lacs | MN | A | 25.6 ft | 42 ft | 128250.02 ac |
| 21 | Ml Lake | Mille Lacs | MN | A | 22.2 ft | 42 ft | 128250.02 ac |
| 22 | Ml Lake | Mille Lacs | MN | A | 20.2 ft | 42 ft | 128250.02 ac |
| 23 | Ml-Peterson Lake | Mille Lacs | MN | A | 20.2 ft | 42 ft | 128250.02 ac |
| 24 | Ml-Seventeen Lake | Aitkin | MN | A | 18.8 ft | 42 ft | 128250.02 ac |
| 25 | Ml-Malone Lake | Mille Lacs | MN | A | 17.5 ft | 42 ft | 128250.02 ac |
| 26 | Buskey Bay Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 70.9 ft | 51 ft | 88 ac |
| 27 | Hart Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 70.5 ft | 54 ft | 257 ac |
| 28 | Hasbrook Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 68.9 ft | 50 ft | 307 ac |
| 29 | Round Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 68.2 ft | 74 ft | 3294 ac |
| 30 | Boot Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 67.3 ft | 38 ft | 230 ac |
| 31 | Beasley Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 65.6 ft | 47 ft | 12 ac |
| 32 | White Sand Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 65.6 ft | 71 ft | 746 ac |
| 33 | Bony Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 64.8 ft | 55 ft | 190 ac |
| 34 | Twin Bear Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 64 ft | 59 ft | 157 ac |
| 35 | Alva Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 62.8 ft | 43 ft | 199 ac |
| 36 | Middle Mckenzie Lake | Burnett | WI | A | 62.3 ft | 45 ft | 527 ac |
| 37 | Flambeau Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 62.3 ft | 78 ft | 1166 ac |
| 38 | Mildred Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 62.3 ft | 45 ft | 168 ac |
| 39 | Upper Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 61.5 ft | 92 ft | 1024 ac |
| 40 | Middle Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 60.7 ft | 66 ft | 880 ac |
| 41 | Presque Isle Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 60.7 ft | 103 ft | 1165 ac |
| 42 | Katinka Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 60.2 ft | 60 ft | 170 ac |
| 43 | Plummer Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 59.9 ft | 85 ft | 219 ac |
| 44 | Upper Kaubashine Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 59.1 ft | 56 ft | 181 ac |
| 45 | Plummer Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 59.1 ft | 85 ft | 219 ac |
| 46 | Eagle Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 59.1 ft | 52 ft | 163 ac |
| 47 | Long Interlaken Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 59.1 ft | 65 ft | 380 ac |
| 48 | White Sand Lake Deep | Vilas | WI | A | 59.1 ft | 63 ft | 1181 ac |
| 49 | Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 57.7 ft | 60 ft | 3176 ac |
| 50 | Little Round Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 57.7 ft | 38 ft | 179 ac |
Musky Habitat & Water Quality
Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family and require large, healthy lake ecosystems. They prefer clear to moderately clear lakes (Secchi depth 4-15 feet) with extensive weed beds, rocky structure, and abundant forage fish like perch, suckers, and cisco.
Water quality directly affects musky populations. High phosphorus and algae levels (grades D-F) reduce oxygen in deeper water where muskies retreat during summer heat. Lakes with declining water quality often see musky populations shrink even when stocking continues.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are the top two musky destinations in the country. Wisconsin is considered the musky capital of the world, with extensive stocking programs and strict size limits that have produced world-class trophy fisheries.