Best Yellow Bullhead Lakes in Minnesota
Top yellow bullhead lakes
1,784 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for yellow bullhead; 204 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. Pelican leads at 94. Across all 204 qualifying lakes the median score is 45.
See all 1,784 yellow bullhead lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelican | Grant | 3,761 | Excellent · 94 | 12.9per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 2 | Big Kandiyohi | Kandiyohi | 2,730 | Excellent · 89 | 6.9per trap net | - | 2022 |
| 3 | Pomme de Terre | Grant | 1,816 | Excellent · 88 | 9.0per trap net | - | 2023 |
| 4 | Minnewaska | Pope | 8,050 | Excellent · 84 | 8.3per trap net | - | 2022 |
| 5 | Minnewawa | Aitkin | 2,351 | Excellent · 84 | 7.4per trap net | - | 2024 |
| 6 | Cannon | Rice | 1,593 | Excellent · 80 | 4.5per trap net | - | 2023 |
| 7 | Cedar | Mahnomen | 1,860 | Excellent · 79 | 12.4per trap net | - | 2018 |
| 8 | Platte | Crow Wing | 1,663 | Excellent · 79 | 11.7per trap net | - | 2009 |
| 9 | North Turtle | Otter Tail | 1,773 | Excellent · 77 | 5.8per trap net | - | 2016 |
| 10 | Washington | Le Sueur | 1,516 | Excellent · 76 | 4.0per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 11 | Knife | Kanabec | 1,259 | Excellent · 76 | 3.6per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 12 | Johanna | Pope | 1,399 | Good · 74 | 4.4per trap net | - | 2022 |
| 13 | Madison | Blue Earth | 1,447 | Good · 73 | 3.3per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 14 | Sallie | Becker | 1,280 | Good · 73 | 8.8per trap net | - | 2024 |
| 15 | Bay | Crow Wing | 2,330 | Good · 71 | 6.8per trap net | - | 2021 |
- 1. PelicanExcellent · 94
Grant County · 3,761 acres
12.9 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 2. Big KandiyohiExcellent · 89
Kandiyohi County · 2,730 acres
6.9 per trap net · surveyed 2022
- 3. Pomme de TerreExcellent · 88
Grant County · 1,816 acres
9.0 per trap net · surveyed 2023
- 4. MinnewaskaExcellent · 84
Pope County · 8,050 acres
8.3 per trap net · surveyed 2022
- 5. MinnewawaExcellent · 84
Aitkin County · 2,351 acres
7.4 per trap net · surveyed 2024
4.5 per trap net · surveyed 2023
12.4 per trap net · surveyed 2018
11.7 per trap net · surveyed 2009
- 9. North TurtleExcellent · 77
Otter Tail County · 1,773 acres
5.8 per trap net · surveyed 2016
- 10. WashingtonExcellent · 76
Le Sueur County · 1,516 acres
4.0 per trap net · surveyed 2025
3.6 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 12. JohannaGood · 74
Pope County · 1,399 acres
4.4 per trap net · surveyed 2022
- 13. MadisonGood · 73
Blue Earth County · 1,447 acres
3.3 per trap net · surveyed 2025
- 14. SallieGood · 73
Becker County · 1,280 acres
8.8 per trap net · surveyed 2024
6.8 per trap net · surveyed 2021
Underrated yellow bullhead 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 | Bass | Becker | 126 | Excellent · 100 | 10.6per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 2 | Rice | Otter Tail | 326 | Excellent · 99 | 6.8per trap net | - | 1988 |
| 3 | Westport | Pope | 203 | Excellent · 99 | 6.8per trap net | - | 2017 |
| 4 | Fremont | Sherburne | 493 | Excellent · 98 | 7.9per trap net | - | 1993 |
| 5 | Oliver (east portion) | Swift | 467 | Excellent · 97 | 5.4per trap net | - | 2025 |
| 6 | Decker | Itasca | 325 | Excellent · 97 | 49.5per trap net | - | 1974 |
| 7 | Moose | Todd | 131 | Excellent · 97 | 29.8per trap net | - | 1998 |
| 8 | Rice | Todd | 562 | Excellent · 95 | 4.5per trap net | - | 1987 |
| 9 | Hydes | Carver | 222 | Excellent · 94 | 19.2per trap net | - | 2017 |
| 10 | Middle Jefferson | Le Sueur | 667 | Excellent · 93 | 9.9per trap net | - | 2018 |
10.6 per trap net · surveyed 1987
- 2. RiceExcellent · 99
Otter Tail County · 326 acres
6.8 per trap net · surveyed 1988
- 3. WestportExcellent · 99
Pope County · 203 acres
6.8 per trap net · surveyed 2017
- 4. FremontExcellent · 98
Sherburne County · 493 acres
7.9 per trap net · surveyed 1993
- 5. Oliver (east portion)Excellent · 97
Swift County · 467 acres
5.4 per trap net · surveyed 2025
49.5 per trap net · surveyed 1974
29.8 per trap net · surveyed 1998
4.5 per trap net · surveyed 1987
19.2 per trap net · surveyed 2017
- 10. Middle JeffersonExcellent · 93
Le Sueur County · 667 acres
9.9 per trap net · surveyed 2018
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best yellow bullhead lake in Minnesota?
Pelican in Grant County is the top-rated yellow bullhead lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 94 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 12.9 yellow bullhead per trap net. Among smaller waters, Bass in Becker County (126 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 yellow bullhead, 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 2009 to 2025, and 12 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 yellow bullhead fishing?
Crow Wing County, Grant County, and Pope County lead this list, holding 6 of the top 15 yellow bullhead lakes in Minnesota between them.