Best Black Bullhead Lakes in Minnesota
Top black bullhead lakes
2,081 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for black bullhead; 224 of them are at least 1,000 acres. The top 15 are ranked below by FishGrade's 0–100 score: abundance against the DNR normal range for similar lakes, plus size structure. Natures leads at 100. Across all 224 qualifying lakes the median score is 40.
See all 2,081 black bullhead lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natures | Itasca | 2,249 | Excellent · 100 | 13.7per trap net | - | 1990 |
| 2 | Rice | Aitkin | 3,684 | Excellent · 89 | 1.6per trap net | - | 2019 |
| 3 | Turtle | Beltrami | 1,607 | Excellent · 79 | 2.8per trap net | - | 1978 |
| 4 | Minnewaska | Pope | 8,050 | Excellent · 76 | 2.9per trap net | - | 2022 |
| 5 | Big Kandiyohi | Kandiyohi | 2,730 | Good · 74 | 76.3per trap net | - | 2022 |
| 6 | Lura | Blue Earth | 1,359 | Good · 67 | 8.1per trap net | - | 2023 |
| 7 | Chippewa | Douglas | 1,186 | Good · 65 | 0.45per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 8 | Rush | Otter Tail | 5,276 | Good · 64 | 0.8per trap net | - | 2013 |
| 9 | Spider | Itasca | 1,392 | Good · 64 | 1.1per trap net | - | 1982 |
| 10 | Madison | Blue Earth | 1,447 | Good · 63 | 2.3per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 11 | Minnetonka | Hennepin | 14,206 | Good · 62 | 0.71per trap net | - | 2022 |
| 12 | Pelican | Grant | 3,761 | Good · 62 | 1.4per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 13 | Carlos | Douglas | 2,605 | Good · 62 | 0.47per trap net | - | 2008 |
| 14 | Artichoke | Big Stone | 1,971 | Good · 62 | 1.4per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 15 | North Turtle | Otter Tail | 1,773 | Good · 62 | 2.8per trap net | - | 2016 |
- 1. NaturesExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 2,249 acres
13.7 per trap net · surveyed 1990
1.6 per trap net · surveyed 2019
2.8 per trap net · surveyed 1978
- 4. MinnewaskaExcellent · 76
Pope County · 8,050 acres
2.9 per trap net · surveyed 2022
- 5. Big KandiyohiGood · 74
Kandiyohi County · 2,730 acres
76.3 per trap net · surveyed 2022
- 6. LuraGood · 67
Blue Earth County · 1,359 acres
8.1 per trap net · surveyed 2023
- 7. ChippewaGood · 65
Douglas County · 1,186 acres
0.45 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 8. RushGood · 64
Otter Tail County · 5,276 acres
0.8 per trap net · surveyed 2013
1.1 per trap net · surveyed 1982
- 10. MadisonGood · 63
Blue Earth County · 1,447 acres
2.3 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 11. MinnetonkaGood · 62
Hennepin County · 14,206 acres
0.71 per trap net · surveyed 2022
- 12. PelicanGood · 62
Grant County · 3,761 acres
1.4 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 13. CarlosGood · 62
Douglas County · 2,605 acres
0.47 per trap net · surveyed 2008
- 14. ArtichokeGood · 62
Big Stone County · 1,971 acres
1.4 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 15. North TurtleGood · 62
Otter Tail County · 1,773 acres
2.8 per trap net · surveyed 2016
Underrated black bullhead lakes under 1,000 acres
Smaller waters (100–999 acres) with standout survey numbers and lighter fishing pressure.
| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoal | Itasca | 676 | Excellent · 100 | 6.0per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 2 | Rice | Todd | 562 | Excellent · 100 | 346.8per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 3 | Wood | Watonwan | 559 | Excellent · 100 | 321.4per trap net | - | 1996 |
| 4 | State Line | Freeborn | 372 | Excellent · 100 | 212.7per trap net | - | 2017 |
| 5 | Rice | Otter Tail | 326 | Excellent · 100 | 6.3per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 6 | Iron | Murray | 282 | Excellent · 100 | 16.0per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 7 | Uhlenkolts | Stearns | 250 | Excellent · 100 | 33.5per trap net | - | 1982 |
| 8 | Rush | Jackson | 243 | Excellent · 100 | 6.0per trap net | - | 2007 |
| 9 | Swenson | Big Stone | 204 | Excellent · 100 | 40.2per trap net | - | 2013 |
| 10 | Westport | Pope | 203 | Excellent · 100 | 39.0per trap net | - | 2017 |
6.0 per trap net · surveyed 1988
346.8 per trap net · surveyed 1987
321.4 per trap net · surveyed 1996
- 4. State LineExcellent · 100
Freeborn County · 372 acres
212.7 per trap net · surveyed 2017
- 5. RiceExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 326 acres
6.3 per trap net · surveyed 1988
16.0 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 7. UhlenkoltsExcellent · 100
Stearns County · 250 acres
33.5 per trap net · surveyed 1982
6.0 per trap net · surveyed 2007
- 9. SwensonExcellent · 100
Big Stone County · 204 acres
40.2 per trap net · surveyed 2013
- 10. WestportExcellent · 100
Pope County · 203 acres
39.0 per trap net · surveyed 2017
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best black bullhead lake in Minnesota?
Natures in Itasca County is the top-rated black bullhead lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 100 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 13.7 black bullhead per trap net. Among smaller waters, Shoal in Itasca County (676 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 100.
How are these rankings calculated?
Each lake's 0-100 FishGrade score blends two signals from Minnesota DNR surveys: abundance, which compares the lake's catch rate to the DNR normal range for similar lakes using the survey gear that best samples black bullhead, and size, the share of sampled fish reaching keeper size. To keep the list meaningful, the main rankings cover named lakes of at least 1,000 acres, and standout smaller lakes of 100+ acres are listed separately.
How current is this data?
Every ranking uses the most recent Minnesota DNR survey for each lake: survey dates for the ranked lakes run from 1978 to 2025, and 9 of 15 were surveyed within the last 7 years. The DNR resurveys most lakes on a 5-to-10-year cycle, and these rankings update as new surveys are published.
Which counties have the best black bullhead fishing?
Blue Earth County, Douglas County, and Itasca County lead this list, holding 6 of the top 15 black bullhead lakes in Minnesota between them.