Best Hybrid Sunfish Lakes in Minnesota
Top hybrid sunfish lakes
1,851 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for hybrid sunfish; 207 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. Franklin leads at 100. Across all 207 qualifying lakes the median score is 47.
See all 1,851 hybrid sunfish lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | Otter Tail | 1,088 | Excellent · 100 | 5.5per trap net | - | 2020 |
| 2 | Height of Land | Becker | 3,795 | Excellent · 99 | 3.8per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 3 | East Loon | Otter Tail | 1,044 | Excellent · 98 | 8.3per trap net | 68% | 2019 |
| 4 | Fish Hook | Hubbard | 1,643 | Excellent · 97 | 3.1per trap net | - | 1967 |
| 5 | Winnibigoshish | Cass | 56,471 | Excellent · 93 | 1.7per trap net | 93% | 2025 |
| 6 | Cotton | Becker | 1,763 | Excellent · 93 | 6.3per trap net | 44% | 2021 |
| 7 | Bay | Crow Wing | 2,330 | Excellent · 92 | 1.9per trap net | 61% | 2021 |
| 8 | Big Stone | Big Stone | 11,984 | Excellent · 91 | 2.0per trap net | 56% | 2024 |
| 9 | Pelican | Crow Wing | 8,367 | Excellent · 91 | 2.1per trap net | - | 2020 |
| 10 | Minnewaska | Pope | 8,050 | Excellent · 91 | 5.1per trap net | 38% | 2023 |
| 11 | North Turtle | Otter Tail | 1,773 | Excellent · 89 | 1.9per trap net | - | 2016 |
| 12 | Strawberry | Becker | 1,498 | Excellent · 89 | 6.8per trap net | 34% | 2022 |
| 13 | Floyd | Becker | 1,178 | Excellent · 89 | 2.8per trap net | 39% | 2021 |
| 14 | Big Cormorant | Becker | 3,657 | Excellent · 88 | 1.3per trap net | 80% | 2023 |
| 15 | Thunder | Cass | 1,347 | Excellent · 88 | 2.3per trap net | 39% | 2023 |
- 1. FranklinExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 1,088 acres
5.5 per trap net · surveyed 2020
- 2. Height of LandExcellent · 99
Becker County · 3,795 acres
3.8 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 3. East LoonExcellent · 98
Otter Tail County · 1,044 acres
8.3 per trap net · 68% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 4. Fish HookExcellent · 97
Hubbard County · 1,643 acres
3.1 per trap net · surveyed 1967
- 5. WinnibigoshishExcellent · 93
Cass County · 56,471 acres
1.7 per trap net · 93% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
6.3 per trap net · 44% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
1.9 per trap net · 61% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
- 8. Big StoneExcellent · 91
Big Stone County · 11,984 acres
2.0 per trap net · 56% keeper-size · surveyed 2024
- 9. PelicanExcellent · 91
Crow Wing County · 8,367 acres
2.1 per trap net · surveyed 2020
- 10. MinnewaskaExcellent · 91
Pope County · 8,050 acres
5.1 per trap net · 38% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 11. North TurtleExcellent · 89
Otter Tail County · 1,773 acres
1.9 per trap net · surveyed 2016
- 12. StrawberryExcellent · 89
Becker County · 1,498 acres
6.8 per trap net · 34% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
2.8 per trap net · 39% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
- 14. Big CormorantExcellent · 88
Becker County · 3,657 acres
1.3 per trap net · 80% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 15. ThunderExcellent · 88
Cass County · 1,347 acres
2.3 per trap net · 39% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
Underrated hybrid sunfish 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 | Fremont | Sherburne | 493 | Excellent · 100 | 21.7per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 2 | Head | Otter Tail | 400 | Excellent · 100 | 5.4per trap net | - | 1977 |
| 3 | Hamlet | Crow Wing | 307 | Excellent · 100 | 7.0per trap net | - | 1989 |
| 4 | Trace | Todd | 253 | Excellent · 100 | 8.0per trap net | - | 1986 |
| 5 | Long | Otter Tail | 204 | Excellent · 100 | 5.0per trap net | - | 1991 |
| 6 | Buzzle | Beltrami | 202 | Excellent · 100 | 9.5per trap net | - | 1986 |
| 7 | Cynthia | Scott | 196 | Excellent · 100 | 11.2per trap net | - | 1992 |
| 8 | Placid | Crow Wing | 183 | Excellent · 100 | 17.3per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 9 | Blue | Crow Wing | 177 | Excellent · 100 | 13.7per trap net | - | 1982 |
| 10 | Linn | Chisago | 177 | Excellent · 100 | 24.0per trap net | - | 1978 |
- 1. FremontExcellent · 100
Sherburne County · 493 acres
21.7 per trap net · surveyed 1988
- 2. HeadExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 400 acres
5.4 per trap net · surveyed 1977
7.0 per trap net · surveyed 1989
8.0 per trap net · surveyed 1986
- 5. LongExcellent · 100
Otter Tail County · 204 acres
5.0 per trap net · surveyed 1991
9.5 per trap net · surveyed 1986
- 7. CynthiaExcellent · 100
Scott County · 196 acres
11.2 per trap net · surveyed 1992
17.3 per trap net · surveyed 1988
13.7 per trap net · surveyed 1982
24.0 per trap net · surveyed 1978
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hybrid sunfish lake in Minnesota?
Franklin in Otter Tail County is the top-rated hybrid sunfish lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 100 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 5.5 hybrid sunfish per trap net. Among smaller waters, Fremont in Sherburne County (493 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 hybrid sunfish, 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 1967 to 2025, and 13 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 hybrid sunfish fishing?
Becker County, Otter Tail County, and Cass County lead this list, holding 10 of the top 15 hybrid sunfish lakes in Minnesota between them.