Fishing in
Minnesota
13,437 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
Minnesota's "Land of 10,000 Lakes" reputation is earned, and walleye, the state fish, is the species most of it is built around — Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods anchor two of the best walleye fisheries in the country. Muskellunge fishing on lakes like Leech Lake and Lake Vermilion adds a trophy predator dimension to a state that treats fishing as a year-round identity, ice included.
Minnesota holds 13,437 fishable waters on the books. Minnesota DNR has logged 36 stockings in the last year, led by black crappie. The biggest water in the state is Lower Red Lake at 164,696 acres.
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What you'll catch here
- Black Crappie1 waters
- Bluegill/Hybrids1 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Cornelia LakeBluegillMay 14, 2026
- Smith BayBluegill/HybridsMay 13, 2026
- Crystal BayBlack CrappieMay 12, 2026
- Jeffers LakeNorthern PikeApr 17, 2026
- Powderhorn LakeLargemouth BassApr 16, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Powderhorn Lake5× stocked
- Snelling Lake5× stocked
- Wirth Lake4× stocked
- Wolfe Lake2× stocked
- Crystal Bay1× stocked
- Smith Bay1× stocked
Biggest waters
- Lower Red Lake164,696 ac
- Mille Lacs Lake128,167 ac
- Upper Red Lake119,323 ac
- Leech Lake103,350 ac
- Lake Winnibigoshish55,762 ac
- Rainy Lake45,770 ac
- Vermilion Lake38,886 ac
- Lake Pepin25,493 ac
Major rivers
- Pickerel Sloughorder 9 · ~2 cfs
- Indian Sloughorder 9
- Rainy Riverorder 8 · ~9,729 cfs
- Minnesota Riverorder 8 · ~3,157 cfs
- Loon Riverorder 8 · ~2,942 cfs
- Red River of the Northorder 7 · ~2,641 cfs
- Blue Earth Riverorder 7 · ~1,275 cfs
- Bottle Riverorder 7 · ~1,156 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →St. Louis (1,319) · Itasca (960) · Lake (957) · Cook (916) · Cass (697) · Otter Tail (475) · Crow Wing (442) · Becker (428) · Aitkin (302) · Beltrami (285) · Polk (285) · Hubbard (251) · Hennepin (242) · Stearns (234) · Clearwater (212) · Pine (202) · Wright (192) · Todd (182) · Douglas (175) · Morrison (166) · Meeker (147) · Kandiyohi (142) · Le Sueur (128) · Washington (122) · Carlton (118) · Anoka (117) · Mahnomen (117) · Pope (109) · Martin (105) · Carver (105)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Minnesota's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Explore nearby states
Minnesota fishing — FAQ
Where does Minnesota stock fish?+
Minnesota DNR logged 36 stockings across Minnesota in the last year, led by black crappie and bluegill/hybrids. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
How often does Minnesota stock fish?+
Minnesota's agency publishes stocking updates that we check daily. Follow any water to track its stocking schedule.
Do I need a license to fish in Minnesota?+
Yes — Minnesota requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Minnesota?+
Minnesota has 13,437 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.