Best Brown Bullhead Lakes in Minnesota
Top brown bullhead lakes
1,796 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for brown bullhead; 206 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 206 qualifying lakes the median score is 45.
See all 1,796 brown bullhead lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natures | Itasca | 2,249 | Excellent · 100 | 6.5per trap net | - | 1990 |
| 2 | Sugar | Itasca | 1,509 | Excellent · 97 | 1.5per trap net | - | 1993 |
| 3 | Round | Itasca | 2,860 | Excellent · 90 | 3.4per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 4 | Serpent | Crow Wing | 1,116 | Excellent · 78 | 1.3per trap net | - | 2020 |
| 5 | Blackduck | Beltrami | 2,711 | Excellent · 76 | 1.3per trap net | - | 2024 |
| 6 | Bowstring | Itasca | 9,528 | Excellent · 75 | 1.7per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 7 | Bemidji (main lake) | Beltrami | 6,596 | Good · 72 | 1.3per trap net | - | 2006 |
| 8 | Little Pine | Otter Tail | 2,080 | Good · 69 | 1.1per trap net | - | 2017 |
| 9 | Upper Rice | Clearwater | 1,527 | Good · 69 | 29.0per trap net | - | 1995 |
| 10 | Diamond | Kandiyohi | 1,610 | Good · 68 | 0.83per trap net | - | 2018 |
| 11 | Island | Becker | 1,179 | Good · 67 | 1.2per trap net | - | 2007 |
| 12 | Reno | Pope | 3,809 | Good · 65 | 0.47per trap net | - | 2018 |
| 13 | Mary | Douglas | 2,450 | Good · 65 | 0.8per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 14 | Pelican | St. Louis | 11,546 | Good · 64 | 0.72per trap net | - | 2012 |
| 15 | North Turtle | Otter Tail | 1,773 | Good · 63 | 2.4per trap net | - | 2016 |
- 1. NaturesExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 2,249 acres
6.5 per trap net · surveyed 1990
1.5 per trap net · surveyed 1993
3.4 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 4. SerpentExcellent · 78
Crow Wing County · 1,116 acres
1.3 per trap net · surveyed 2020
- 5. BlackduckExcellent · 76
Beltrami County · 2,711 acres
1.3 per trap net · surveyed 2024
- 6. BowstringExcellent · 75
Itasca County · 9,528 acres
1.7 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 7. Bemidji (main lake)Good · 72
Beltrami County · 6,596 acres
1.3 per trap net · surveyed 2006
- 8. Little PineGood · 69
Otter Tail County · 2,080 acres
1.1 per trap net · surveyed 2017
- 9. Upper RiceGood · 69
Clearwater County · 1,527 acres
29.0 per trap net · surveyed 1995
- 10. DiamondGood · 68
Kandiyohi County · 1,610 acres
0.83 per trap net · surveyed 2018
- 11. IslandGood · 67
Becker County · 1,179 acres
1.2 per trap net · surveyed 2007
0.47 per trap net · surveyed 2018
0.8 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 14. PelicanGood · 64
St. Louis County · 11,546 acres
0.72 per trap net · surveyed 2012
- 15. North TurtleGood · 63
Otter Tail County · 1,773 acres
2.4 per trap net · surveyed 2016
Underrated brown 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 | 25.4per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 2 | Rice | Todd | 562 | Excellent · 100 | 19.0per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 3 | Rice | Otter Tail | 326 | Excellent · 100 | 15.5per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 4 | Uhlenkolts | Stearns | 250 | Excellent · 100 | 2.8per trap net | - | 1982 |
| 5 | Westport | Pope | 203 | Excellent · 100 | 14.9per trap net | - | 2017 |
| 6 | Carlson | Itasca | 188 | Excellent · 100 | 6.1per trap net | - | 1992 |
| 7 | Little Cowhorn | Itasca | 181 | Excellent · 100 | 22.0per trap net | - | 1992 |
| 8 | Linn | Chisago | 177 | Excellent · 100 | 84.7per trap net | - | 1978 |
| 9 | Gifford | Scott | 119 | Excellent · 100 | 7.0per trap net | - | 1981 |
| 10 | Winter | Becker | 117 | Excellent · 100 | 8.2per trap net | - | 2021 |
25.4 per trap net · surveyed 1988
19.0 per trap net · surveyed 1987
- 3. RiceExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 326 acres
15.5 per trap net · surveyed 1988
- 4. UhlenkoltsExcellent · 100
Stearns County · 250 acres
2.8 per trap net · surveyed 1982
- 5. WestportExcellent · 100
Pope County · 203 acres
14.9 per trap net · surveyed 2017
- 6. CarlsonExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 188 acres
6.1 per trap net · surveyed 1992
- 7. Little CowhornExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 181 acres
22.0 per trap net · surveyed 1992
84.7 per trap net · surveyed 1978
- 9. GiffordExcellent · 100
Scott County · 119 acres
7.0 per trap net · surveyed 1981
- 10. WinterExcellent · 100
Becker County · 117 acres
8.2 per trap net · surveyed 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best brown bullhead lake in Minnesota?
Natures in Itasca County is the top-rated brown bullhead lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 100 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 6.5 brown 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 brown 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 1990 to 2025, and 5 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 brown bullhead fishing?
Itasca County, Beltrami County, and Otter Tail County lead this list, holding 8 of the top 15 brown bullhead lakes in Minnesota between them.