Best Chinook Salmon Lakes in Minnesota
The top 1 chinook salmon lakes
1 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for chinook salmon; 1 of them are at least 100 acres. The top 1 are ranked below by FishGrade's 0–100 score: abundance against the DNR normal range for similar lakes, plus size structure. St. Louis River Estuary leads at 55. Across all 1 qualifying lakes the median score is 55.
See all 1 chinook salmon lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis River Estuary | St. Louis | 10,255 | Good · 55 | 0.07per gill net | - | 1983 |
- 1. St. Louis River EstuaryGood · 55
St. Louis County · 10,255 acres
0.07 per gill net · surveyed 1983
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best chinook salmon lake in Minnesota?
St. Louis River Estuary in St. Louis County is the top-rated chinook salmon lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 55 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 0.07 chinook salmon per gill net.
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 chinook salmon, and size, the share of sampled fish reaching keeper size. To keep the list meaningful, it only includes named lakes of at least 100 acres with a current score.
How current is this data?
Every ranking uses the most recent Minnesota DNR survey for each lake: every ranked lake was last surveyed in 1983. The DNR resurveys most lakes on a 5-to-10-year cycle, and these rankings update as new surveys are published.