Best Muskellunge Lakes in Minnesota
Top muskellunge lakes
153 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for muskellunge; 58 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. Leech leads at 100. Across all 58 qualifying lakes the median score is 90.
See all 153 muskellunge lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leech | Cass | 103,444 | Excellent · 100 | 0.11per gill net | 86% | 2023 |
| 2 | Forest | Washington | 2,271 | Excellent · 100 | 0.38per gill net | - | 2017 |
| 3 | Minnetonka | Hennepin | 14,206 | Excellent · 99 | 0.08per gill net | - | 2022 |
| 4 | Miltona | Douglas | 5,731 | Excellent · 99 | 0.08per gill net | - | 2023 |
| 5 | Pelican | Otter Tail | 3,962 | Excellent · 99 | 0.13per gill net | 87% | 2015 |
| 6 | Alexander | Morrison | 2,709 | Excellent · 99 | 0.07per gill net | - | 2024 |
| 7 | Bald Eagle | Ramsey | 1,049 | Excellent · 99 | 0.17per gill net | - | 2022 |
| 8 | St. Croix River-Stlwtr-Prescott | Washington | 8,393 | Excellent · 98 | 0.06per gill net | - | 2006 |
| 9 | Island Lake Reservoir | St. Louis | 8,001 | Excellent · 98 | 0.09per gill net | 78% | 2021 |
| 10 | Bemidji (main lake) | Beltrami | 6,596 | Excellent · 98 | 0.07per gill net | 100% | 2006 |
| 11 | Plantagenet | Hubbard | 2,531 | Excellent · 98 | 0.07per gill net | 98% | 2004 |
| 12 | Sugar | Wright | 1,014 | Excellent · 98 | 0.17per gill net | 85% | 2012 |
| 13 | West Battle | Otter Tail | 5,615 | Excellent · 97 | 0.07per gill net | 84% | 2010 |
| 14 | West Rush | Chisago | 1,594 | Excellent · 97 | 0.08per gill net | - | 1997 |
| 15 | Detroit | Becker | 3,067 | Excellent · 96 | 0.08per gill net | 75% | 2023 |
0.11 per gill net · 86% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 2. ForestExcellent · 100
Washington County · 2,271 acres
0.38 per gill net · surveyed 2017
- 3. MinnetonkaExcellent · 99
Hennepin County · 14,206 acres
0.08 per gill net · surveyed 2022
- 4. MiltonaExcellent · 99
Douglas County · 5,731 acres
0.08 per gill net · surveyed 2023
- 5. PelicanExcellent · 99
Otter Tail County · 3,962 acres
0.13 per gill net · 87% keeper-size · surveyed 2015
- 6. AlexanderExcellent · 99
Morrison County · 2,709 acres
0.07 per gill net · surveyed 2024
- 7. Bald EagleExcellent · 99
Ramsey County · 1,049 acres
0.17 per gill net · surveyed 2022
- 8. St. Croix River-Stlwtr-PrescottExcellent · 98
Washington County · 8,393 acres
0.06 per gill net · surveyed 2006
- 9. Island Lake ReservoirExcellent · 98
St. Louis County · 8,001 acres
0.09 per gill net · 78% keeper-size · surveyed 2021
- 10. Bemidji (main lake)Excellent · 98
Beltrami County · 6,596 acres
0.07 per gill net · 100% keeper-size · surveyed 2006
- 11. PlantagenetExcellent · 98
Hubbard County · 2,531 acres
0.07 per gill net · 98% keeper-size · surveyed 2004
0.17 per gill net · 85% keeper-size · surveyed 2012
- 13. West BattleExcellent · 97
Otter Tail County · 5,615 acres
0.07 per gill net · 84% keeper-size · surveyed 2010
- 14. West RushExcellent · 97
Chisago County · 1,594 acres
0.08 per gill net · surveyed 1997
- 15. DetroitExcellent · 96
Becker County · 3,067 acres
0.08 per gill net · 75% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
Underrated muskellunge 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 | Fox | McLeod | 951 | Excellent · 100 | 0.33per gill net | - | 2013 |
| 2 | Independence | Hennepin | 832 | Excellent · 100 | 0.22per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 3 | Cross | Pine | 925 | Excellent · 99 | 0.17per gill net | - | 2014 |
| 4 | Bde Maka Ska | Hennepin | 424 | Excellent · 98 | 0.12per gill net | - | 2019 |
| 5 | North Star | Itasca | 832 | Excellent · 95 | 0.08per gill net | 77% | 2019 |
| 6 | Roberds | Rice | 632 | Excellent · 95 | 0.43per gill net | - | 2020 |
| 7 | Marquette | Beltrami | 528 | Excellent · 94 | 0.11per gill net | - | 2012 |
| 8 | Elk | Clearwater | 303 | Excellent · 93 | 0.67per gill net | - | 2025 |
| 9 | Comfort | Chisago | 218 | Excellent · 93 | 0.17per gill net | - | 2010 |
| 10 | Hoot | Otter Tail | 161 | Excellent · 93 | 0.33per gill net | - | 2006 |
0.33 per gill net · surveyed 2013
- 2. IndependenceExcellent · 100
Hennepin County · 832 acres
0.22 per gill net · surveyed 2025
0.17 per gill net · surveyed 2014
- 4. Bde Maka SkaExcellent · 98
Hennepin County · 424 acres
0.12 per gill net · surveyed 2019
- 5. North StarExcellent · 95
Itasca County · 832 acres
0.08 per gill net · 77% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 6. RoberdsExcellent · 95
Rice County · 632 acres
0.43 per gill net · surveyed 2020
- 7. MarquetteExcellent · 94
Beltrami County · 528 acres
0.11 per gill net · surveyed 2012
- 8. ElkExcellent · 93
Clearwater County · 303 acres
0.67 per gill net · surveyed 2025
- 9. ComfortExcellent · 93
Chisago County · 218 acres
0.17 per gill net · surveyed 2010
- 10. HootExcellent · 93
Otter Tail County · 161 acres
0.33 per gill net · surveyed 2006
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best muskellunge lake in Minnesota?
Leech in Cass County is the top-rated muskellunge lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 100 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 0.11 muskellunge per gill net, with 86% of catchable fish at keeper size. Among smaller waters, Fox in McLeod County (951 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 muskellunge, 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 1997 to 2024, and 7 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 muskellunge fishing?
Otter Tail County and Washington County lead this list, holding 4 of the top 15 muskellunge lakes in Minnesota between them.