Best Common Carp Lakes in Minnesota
Top common carp lakes
846 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for common carp; 117 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. Bear leads at 86. Across all 117 qualifying lakes the median score is 50.
See all 846 common carp lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bear | Freeborn | 1,033 | Excellent · 86 | 24.0per gill net | - | 2009 |
| 2 | Okamanpeedan | McLeod | 2,268 | Excellent · 83 | 43.7per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 3 | Albert Lea | Freeborn | 2,669 | Excellent · 82 | 15.7per gill net | - | 2021 |
| 4 | Ocheda | Nobles | 1,691 | Excellent · 81 | 43.0per gill net | - | 2009 |
| 5 | Le Homme Dieu | Douglas | 1,801 | Excellent · 80 | 3.1per gill net | - | 2012 |
| 6 | Freeborn | Freeborn | 2,034 | Excellent · 76 | 49.0per gill net | - | 2004 |
| 7 | Knife | Kanabec | 1,259 | Excellent · 76 | 31.7per gill net | - | 1988 |
| 8 | Diamond | Kandiyohi | 1,610 | Excellent · 75 | 1.0per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 9 | Marsh | Big Stone | 4,462 | Good · 71 | 4.5per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 10 | Heron (South Heron) | Jackson | 2,641 | Good · 70 | 10.0per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 11 | Traverse | Traverse | 10,849 | Good · 69 | 6.3per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 12 | Carlos | Douglas | 2,605 | Good · 69 | 0.6per gill net | - | 2013 |
| 13 | Buffalo | Wright | 1,552 | Good · 68 | 1.2per gill net | - | 2021 |
| 14 | Benton | Lincoln | 2,699 | Good · 66 | 6.0per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 15 | Koronis (main lake) | Stearns | 2,968 | Good · 65 | 0.25per gill net | - | 2024 |
24.0 per gill net · surveyed 2009
- 2. OkamanpeedanExcellent · 83
McLeod County · 2,268 acres
43.7 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 3. Albert LeaExcellent · 82
Freeborn County · 2,669 acres
15.7 per gill net · surveyed 2021
43.0 per gill net · surveyed 2009
- 5. Le Homme DieuExcellent · 80
Douglas County · 1,801 acres
3.1 per gill net · surveyed 2012
- 6. FreebornExcellent · 76
Freeborn County · 2,034 acres
49.0 per gill net · surveyed 2004
31.7 per gill net · surveyed 1988
- 8. DiamondExcellent · 75
Kandiyohi County · 1,610 acres
1.0 per gill net · surveyed 2023
4.5 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 10. Heron (South Heron)Good · 70
Jackson County · 2,641 acres
10.0 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 11. TraverseGood · 69
Traverse County · 10,849 acres
6.3 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 12. CarlosGood · 69
Douglas County · 2,605 acres
0.6 per gill net · surveyed 2013
- 13. BuffaloGood · 68
Wright County · 1,552 acres
1.2 per gill net · surveyed 2021
- 14. BentonGood · 66
Lincoln County · 2,699 acres
6.0 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 15. Koronis (main lake)Good · 65
Stearns County · 2,968 acres
0.25 per gill net · surveyed 2024
Underrated common carp 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 | Wood | Watonwan | 559 | Excellent · 100 | 42.5per gill net | - | 1996 |
| 2 | Rice | Otter Tail | 326 | Excellent · 100 | 6.0per gill net | - | 1988 |
| 3 | Rush | Jackson | 243 | Excellent · 100 | 26.0per gill net | - | 2007 |
| 4 | Graham | Grant | 138 | Excellent · 99 | 3.0per gill net | - | 1989 |
| 5 | Anna | Otter Tail | 598 | Excellent · 98 | 2.4per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 6 | Eagle | Kandiyohi | 849 | Excellent · 84 | 5.0per gill net | - | 2020 |
| 7 | Buffalo | Murray | 127 | Excellent · 84 | 27.5per gill net | - | 2009 |
| 8 | Winona | Douglas | 213 | Excellent · 81 | 21.5per gill net | - | 2015 |
| 9 | Long | Ramsey | 173 | Excellent · 81 | 6.0per gill net | - | 2021 |
| 10 | Belle | Meeker | 864 | Excellent · 80 | 3.2per gill net | - | 2024 |
42.5 per gill net · surveyed 1996
- 2. RiceExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 326 acres
6.0 per gill net · surveyed 1988
26.0 per gill net · surveyed 2007
3.0 per gill net · surveyed 1989
- 5. AnnaExcellent · 98
Otter Tail County · 598 acres
2.4 per gill net · surveyed 2025
5.0 per gill net · surveyed 2020
- 7. BuffaloExcellent · 84
Murray County · 127 acres
27.5 per gill net · surveyed 2009
21.5 per gill net · surveyed 2015
6.0 per gill net · surveyed 2021
3.2 per gill net · surveyed 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best common carp lake in Minnesota?
Bear in Freeborn County is the top-rated common carp lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 86 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 24.0 common carp per gill net. Among smaller waters, Wood in Watonwan County (559 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 common carp, 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 1988 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 common carp fishing?
Freeborn County and Douglas County lead this list, holding 5 of the top 15 common carp lakes in Minnesota between them.