Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best muskellunge lakes in Minnesota
The DNR has surveyed muskellunge in 106 Minnesota lakes. Of those, 68 earn a grade on this site, and the top 25 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Leech Lake is first at A. Its biggest muskellunge in the survey was 50 inches. Bouder Lake is second at A. None of its muskellunge measured over 40 inches. Vermilion Lake is third at A, and its biggest muskellunge was 50 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 40" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leech Lake | A | 103,444 | — | 78% | 50" | 21.6 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Bouder Lake | A | 129 | — | 0% | 38" | 4.4 lb | 2014 |
| 3 | Vermilion Lake | A | 39,272 | — | 91% | 50" | 25.9 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lichen Lake | A− | 253 | — | 0% | 35" | 3.9 lb | 2014 |
| 5 | Harris Lake | A− | 122 | — | 0% | 33" | 3.8 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Minnetonka Lake | A− | 14,206 | — | 50% | 50" | 22.1 lb | 2022 |
| 7 | Dumbbell Lake | A− | 406 | — | 0% | 36" | 5.9 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Island Lake Reservoir | A− | 8,001 | — | 76% | 50" | 17.3 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Elk Lake | B+ | 303 | — | 25% | 50" | 8.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Little Wolf Lake | B+ | 525 | — | 0% | 39" | 7.2 lb | 2024 |
| 11 | Cass Lake | B+ | 15,958 | — | 0% | 31" | 4 lb | 2025 |
| 12 | Lake Miltona | B+ | 5,731 | — | 68% | 50" | 14.5 lb | 2023 |
| 13 | Many Point Lake | B | 1,701 | — | 0% | 28" | 3.1 lb | 2023 |
| 14 | Bald Eagle Lake | B | 1,049 | — | 56% | 48" | 16.7 lb | 2022 |
| 15 | Big Lake | B | 3,598 | — | 77% | 50" | 21.7 lb | 2025 |
| 16 | Moose Lake | B | 1,273 | — | 33% | 40" | 12.5 lb | 2025 |
| 17 | Deer Lake | B | 4,094 | — | 100% | 44" | 23.2 lb | 2023 |
| 18 | Little Boy Lake | B | 1,452 | — | 0% | 24" | 2.2 lb | 2024 |
| 19 | Lake Oscar | B− | 997 | — | 71% | 50" | — | 2025 |
| 20 | Roosevelt Lake | B− | 1,511 | — | 55% | 50" | 17.5 lb | 2024 |
| 21 | Sugar Lake | B− | 1,014 | — | 85% | 50" | 22 lb | 2025 |
| 22 | Bemidji (main lake) | B− | 6,596 | — | 100% | 50" | — | 2022 |
| 23 | Pike Bay Lake | B− | 4,756 | — | 0% | 24" | 2.9 lb | 2025 |
| 24 | Pelican Lake | B− | 3,962 | — | 81% | 50" | 22.6 lb | 2025 |
| 25 | Lake of the Woods | B− | 725,583 | — | 83% | 50" | 23.7 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked statewide: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
Muskellunge by county: Beltrami · Cass
Muskellunge near a city: Minneapolis · St. Paul · Brainerd · Bemidji
Grades are based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.