The Best Fishing Spots in Minnesota
In Minnesota, anglers enjoy abundant lake and river fishing across thousands of waters from the Boundary Waters and Lake of the Woods to Lake Superior; key species include walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskellunge, trout like brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout, plus plentiful panfish such as bluegill and crappie and yellow perch; popular techniques are trolling, casting, fly fishing and winter ice fishing, offering great recreational opportunities year-round.
Top Cities For Fishing
River Fishing
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Basswood Lake
Boundary Waters classic with clear-water smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike; fish boulder shorelines, current narrows, and mid-lake reefs near Ely and routes toward Knife Lake and Jackfish Bay .
Cass Lake
Clear waters and expansive bars hold strong walleye and smallmouth bass populations, plus good muskellunge; hit sand-to-rock transitions, emergent weedlines, and island points close to Cass Lake and the Mississippi River inlet/outlet.
Gull Lake
Brainerd-area favorite for walleye, largemouth bass, and quality panfish, with a bonus pike bite; work weed edges, sand points, and mid-lake structure near Nisswa and Brainerd during open water and winter.
Kabetogama Lake
Voyageurs National Park gem with plentiful walleye, feisty smallmouth, and big pike; intricate island structure, reef tops, and wind-driven shorelines near Ash River and Namakan Lake produce from opener into late season.
Lake Winnibigoshish
Classic big-water structure supports abundant walleye, jumbo perch, and roaming pike; expansive bars, humps, and shoreline breaks are productive from early summer through ice, with access near Cut Foot Sioux Lake and Deer River .
Lake of the Woods
Border water famed for numbers and size of walleye and sauger, plus giant northern pike and sturgeon; the Big Traverse basin, near-shore structure, and winter ice roads out of Baudette and Warroad deliver consistent action.
Leech Lake
Renowned for strong walleye bites on wind-blown points and reefs, plus premier muskellunge and perch; large flats like Walker Bay and rock/sand transitions fire from opener through late fall and are excellent targets in winter.
Mississippi River
From headwaters to the metro pools, this river offers diverse fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, and panfish; current seams, wing dams, and backwaters near St. Cloud and St. Paul are prime throughout open water and ice-safe backwater periods.
Mille Lacs Lake
A legendary walleye destination with abundant walleye, plus trophy muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and northern pike; expansive mudflats, rock reefs, and sand breaks fish well from opener through ice season, with easy access from Garrison , Isle , and Wahkon .
Lake Minnetonka
A metro powerhouse known for big largemouth bass, hefty northern pike, solid walleye, and year-round panfish action; bays like Wayzata Bay and Excelsior Bay produce from spring through winter with docks, weedlines, and points offering variety.
Pokegama Lake
Grand Rapids favorite known for quality walleye, smallmouth bass, and crappie; target rock reefs, river channels, and weed edges near the Mississippi River junction and community accesses in Grand Rapids .
Prior Lake
South metro lake with solid largemouth bass, walleye, and year-round panfish; weedlines, hard-bottom points, and mid-lake humps in Upper and Lower basins near Shakopee and Savage fish well spring through winter.
Rainy Lake
Crystal-clear border water with robust smallmouth bass, quality walleye, and big northern pike; island-studded structure, reef complexes, and current areas near International Falls fish well spring through late fall and on safe ice.
St. Croix River
Scenic waterway offering excellent smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, and seasonal sturgeon; target rocky shorelines, mid-river seams, and deep holes from Taylors Falls to Stillwater by boat or from accessible shore parks.
Upper Red Lake
A go-to for numbers of walleye with classic Minnesota ice-fishing; shallow flats, scattered rock, and near-shore breaks shine across seasons, with easy resort access from Waskish and plowed ice roads during winter.
White Bear Lake
Twin Cities suburban lake offering accessible largemouth bass, strong panfish schools, and catchable walleye; fish cabbage lines, points, and mid-lake flats from public access around White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi .
Zippel Bay
A sheltered Lake of the Woods bay that shines for walleye and pike, especially during spring and fall migrations; troll or jig along the mouth and shoreline breaks with easy access from Zippel Bay State Park and nearby Williams .
Lake Superior
The North Shore’s inland sea yields cold-water species like lake trout, steelhead, coho, and chinook salmon; trolling open water off Duluth and Two Harbors or casting river mouths in spring and fall produces memorable catches.