Best Pumpkinseed Lakes in Minnesota
Top pumpkinseed lakes
2,392 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for pumpkinseed; 223 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. North Tamarack leads at 73. Across all 223 qualifying lakes the median score is 28.
See all 2,392 pumpkinseed lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Tamarack | Becker | 1,442 | Good · 73 | 3.1per trap net | - | 2018 |
| 2 | Winnibigoshish | Cass | 56,471 | Good · 67 | 2.7per trap net | 20% | 2025 |
| 3 | Osakis | Todd | 6,389 | Good · 66 | 2.8per trap net | 40% | 2022 |
| 4 | Height of Land | Becker | 3,795 | Good · 63 | 1.3per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 5 | Benton | Lincoln | 2,699 | Good · 62 | 9.6per trap net | - | 1983 |
| 6 | Round | Itasca | 2,860 | Good · 61 | 1.7per trap net | - | 2021 |
| 7 | Franklin | Otter Tail | 1,088 | Good · 60 | 1.8per trap net | - | 2020 |
| 8 | Lake of the Woods | Lake of the Woods | 725,583 | Good · 59 | 0.54per trap net | 13% | 2022 |
| 9 | St. Louis River Estuary | St. Louis | 10,255 | Good · 56 | 2.1per trap net | - | 2012 |
| 10 | Boulder | St. Louis | 3,260 | Good · 56 | 0.21per trap net | - | 2023 |
| 11 | Sturgeon | Pine | 1,706 | Good · 52 | 1.3per trap net | 31% | 2023 |
| 12 | Little Rock | Benton | 1,311 | Good · 52 | 0.14per trap net | - | 1974 |
| 13 | Waconia | Carver | 3,080 | Good · 51 | 19.6per trap net | 1% | 2025 |
| 14 | Emily | Pope | 2,316 | Good · 51 | 0.08per trap net | - | 2000 |
| 15 | Alexander | Morrison | 2,709 | Good · 50 | 5.5per trap net | 9% | 2018 |
- 1. North TamarackGood · 73
Becker County · 1,442 acres
3.1 per trap net · surveyed 2018
- 2. WinnibigoshishGood · 67
Cass County · 56,471 acres
2.7 per trap net · 20% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
2.8 per trap net · 40% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 4. Height of LandGood · 63
Becker County · 3,795 acres
1.3 per trap net · surveyed 2021
9.6 per trap net · surveyed 1983
1.7 per trap net · surveyed 2021
- 7. FranklinGood · 60
Otter Tail County · 1,088 acres
1.8 per trap net · surveyed 2020
- 8. Lake of the WoodsGood · 59
Lake of the Woods County · 725,583 acres
0.54 per trap net · 13% keeper-size · surveyed 2022
- 9. St. Louis River EstuaryGood · 56
St. Louis County · 10,255 acres
2.1 per trap net · surveyed 2012
- 10. BoulderGood · 56
St. Louis County · 3,260 acres
0.21 per trap net · surveyed 2023
- 11. SturgeonGood · 52
Pine County · 1,706 acres
1.3 per trap net · 31% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
- 12. Little RockGood · 52
Benton County · 1,311 acres
0.14 per trap net · surveyed 1974
- 13. WaconiaGood · 51
Carver County · 3,080 acres
19.6 per trap net · 1% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
0.08 per trap net · surveyed 2000
- 15. AlexanderGood · 50
Morrison County · 2,709 acres
5.5 per trap net · 9% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
Underrated pumpkinseed 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 | Rice | Otter Tail | 326 | Excellent · 99 | 11.0per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 2 | Knight | Cass | 131 | Excellent · 99 | 10.5per trap net | - | 1989 |
| 3 | Bass | Becker | 126 | Excellent · 94 | 5.9per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 4 | Head | Otter Tail | 400 | Excellent · 92 | 24.6per trap net | - | 1977 |
| 5 | Windigo | Beltrami | 195 | Excellent · 91 | 64.0per trap net | - | 1984 |
| 6 | Cutaway | Itasca | 307 | Excellent · 90 | 8.8per trap net | - | 1990 |
| 7 | Horseshoe | Cass | 127 | Excellent · 89 | 11.7per trap net | 52% | 2014 |
| 8 | Ox | Crow Wing | 241 | Excellent · 87 | 7.0per trap net | - | 1990 |
| 9 | Greenleaf | Le Sueur | 302 | Excellent · 84 | 94.8per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 10 | Lows | Crow Wing | 302 | Excellent · 84 | 18.8per trap net | - | 1984 |
- 1. RiceExcellent · 99
Otter Tail County · 326 acres
11.0 per trap net · surveyed 1988
10.5 per trap net · surveyed 1989
5.9 per trap net · surveyed 1987
- 4. HeadExcellent · 92
Otter Tail County · 400 acres
24.6 per trap net · surveyed 1977
- 5. WindigoExcellent · 91
Beltrami County · 195 acres
64.0 per trap net · surveyed 1984
- 6. CutawayExcellent · 90
Itasca County · 307 acres
8.8 per trap net · surveyed 1990
- 7. HorseshoeExcellent · 89
Cass County · 127 acres
11.7 per trap net · 52% keeper-size · surveyed 2014
7.0 per trap net · surveyed 1990
- 9. GreenleafExcellent · 84
Le Sueur County · 302 acres
94.8 per trap net · surveyed 1987
18.8 per trap net · surveyed 1984
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pumpkinseed lake in Minnesota?
North Tamarack in Becker County is the top-rated pumpkinseed lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 73 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 3.1 pumpkinseed per trap net. Among smaller waters, Rice in Otter Tail County (326 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 99.
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 pumpkinseed, 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 1974 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 pumpkinseed fishing?
Becker County and St. Louis County lead this list, holding 4 of the top 15 pumpkinseed lakes in Minnesota between them.