Best Channel Catfish Lakes in Minnesota
Top channel catfish lakes
247 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for channel catfish; 42 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. Marsh leads at 100. Across all 42 qualifying lakes the median score is 40.
See all 247 channel catfish lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marsh | Big Stone | 4,462 | Excellent · 100 | 9.0per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 2 | Emily | Pope | 2,316 | Excellent · 100 | 15.1per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 3 | Hanska | Brown | 1,795 | Excellent · 100 | 19.8per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 4 | Spring | Dakota | 1,494 | Excellent · 100 | 9.5per gill net | - | 2001 |
| 5 | Byllesby | Dakota | 1,368 | Excellent · 100 | 8.1per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 6 | Little Rock | Benton | 1,311 | Excellent · 100 | 6.7per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 7 | Traverse | Traverse | 10,849 | Excellent · 99 | 6.3per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 8 | Big Sandy | Aitkin | 6,125 | Excellent · 99 | 5.3per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 9 | Lac Qui Parle | Lac qui Parle | 5,741 | Excellent · 99 | 6.5per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 10 | Okamanpeedan | McLeod | 2,268 | Excellent · 99 | 5.7per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 11 | Pokegama | Pine | 1,521 | Excellent · 97 | 4.3per gill net | - | 2022 |
| 12 | Pepin | Goodhue | 12,299 | Excellent · 96 | 4.1per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 13 | St. Louis River Estuary | St. Louis | 10,255 | Excellent · 92 | 3.2per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 14 | Mud | Traverse | 2,449 | Excellent · 80 | 2.0per gill net | - | 2010 |
| 15 | Big Stone NWR East Pool | Lac qui Parle | 1,286 | Excellent · 76 | 1.8per gill net | - | 2013 |
9.0 per gill net · surveyed 2025
15.1 per gill net · surveyed 2025
19.8 per gill net · surveyed 2025
9.5 per gill net · surveyed 2001
- 5. ByllesbyExcellent · 100
Dakota County · 1,368 acres
8.1 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 6. Little RockExcellent · 100
Benton County · 1,311 acres
6.7 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 7. TraverseExcellent · 99
Traverse County · 10,849 acres
6.3 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 8. Big SandyExcellent · 99
Aitkin County · 6,125 acres
5.3 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 9. Lac Qui ParleExcellent · 99
Lac qui Parle County · 5,741 acres
6.5 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 10. OkamanpeedanExcellent · 99
McLeod County · 2,268 acres
5.7 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 11. PokegamaExcellent · 97
Pine County · 1,521 acres
4.3 per gill net · surveyed 2022
4.1 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 13. St. Louis River EstuaryExcellent · 92
St. Louis County · 10,255 acres
3.2 per gill net · surveyed 2025
2.0 per gill net · surveyed 2010
- 15. Big Stone NWR East PoolExcellent · 76
Lac qui Parle County · 1,286 acres
1.8 per gill net · surveyed 2013
Underrated channel catfish 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 | Talcot | Cottonwood | 873 | Excellent · 100 | 14.0per gill net | - | 2024 |
| 2 | Loon | Blue Earth | 809 | Excellent · 100 | 7.0per gill net | - | 2006 |
| 3 | Otter | Mahnomen | 642 | Excellent · 100 | 7.4per gill net | - | 2012 |
| 4 | Hall | McLeod | 548 | Excellent · 100 | 9.7per gill net | - | 2022 |
| 5 | West Graham | Nobles | 519 | Excellent · 100 | 51.3per gill net | - | 2022 |
| 6 | Wood | Yellow Medicine | 485 | Excellent · 100 | 21.0per gill net | - | 2017 |
| 7 | Big Twin | McLeod | 461 | Excellent · 100 | 12.0per gill net | - | 2024 |
| 8 | Rice | Crow Wing | 418 | Excellent · 100 | 32.7per gill net | - | 2021 |
| 9 | Bloody | Murray | 274 | Excellent · 100 | 8.0per gill net | - | 2022 |
| 10 | Knaus | Stearns | 216 | Excellent · 100 | 10.5per gill net | - | 2024 |
- 1. TalcotExcellent · 100
Cottonwood County · 873 acres
14.0 per gill net · surveyed 2024
- 2. LoonExcellent · 100
Blue Earth County · 809 acres
7.0 per gill net · surveyed 2006
7.4 per gill net · surveyed 2012
9.7 per gill net · surveyed 2022
- 5. West GrahamExcellent · 100
Nobles County · 519 acres
51.3 per gill net · surveyed 2022
- 6. WoodExcellent · 100
Yellow Medicine County · 485 acres
21.0 per gill net · surveyed 2017
- 7. Big TwinExcellent · 100
McLeod County · 461 acres
12.0 per gill net · surveyed 2024
32.7 per gill net · surveyed 2021
8.0 per gill net · surveyed 2022
10.5 per gill net · surveyed 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best channel catfish lake in Minnesota?
Marsh in Big Stone County is the top-rated channel catfish lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 100 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 9.0 channel catfish per gill net. Among smaller waters, Talcot in Cottonwood County (873 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 channel catfish, 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 2001 to 2025, and 12 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 channel catfish fishing?
Dakota County, Lac qui Parle County, and Traverse County lead this list, holding 6 of the top 15 channel catfish lakes in Minnesota between them.