Top 10 Freshwater Fish to Catch in Minnesota

Top Ten
Fish to Catch in Minnesota

Minnesota’s walleye waters, pike attitude.

Minnesota freshwater isn’t for the indecisive. You get yellow walleye and northern pike, but that’s just the start. Largemouth and smallmouth keep you guessing, while tiger trout and lake trout punish mistakes. Fish here, and you’ll never hit the same day twice.

Top 10 Species

These are the fish that get noticed by FishyAF anglers. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.

1

Yellow Walleye

Verified
World Record 25 lb 0 oz
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact Those glassy eyes pack a mirror-layered retina that lets them hunt in near-darkness-and glow under headlamps.
Click to Learn More About Yellow Walleye
2

Northern Pike

Verified
World Record 55 lb 1 oz
Lothar Louis / 1986
Lake of Grefeern, Germany
Signature Fact Unlike most fish, they launch with an S-start burst-arrow-straight acceleration that nails prey with sniper precision.
Click to Learn More About Northern Pike
3

Largemouth Bass

Verified
World Record 22 lb 4 oz
Manabu Kurita / 2009
Lake Biwa, Japan
Signature Fact High-speed videos show they snap their mouth fully open in about 30 milliseconds, vacuuming prey from 3 inches.
Click to Learn More About Largemouth Bass
4

Smallmouth Bass

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 11 lb 15 oz
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
Signature Fact In winter, they huddle in massive "sleep piles"-hundreds nose-to-current, barely twitching for weeks.
5

Black Crappie

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 11 lb 5 oz
Stanley P. Lopus / 1998
Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania
Signature Fact During spawn, males can shift from silvery speckles to almost jet-black while fanning and ferociously guarding saucer nests.
6

Muskellunge

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 67 lb 8 oz
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin
Signature Fact A shocking number of hookups explode inches from the net during boatside figure‑eights-pure cardiac fishing.
7

Tiger Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 20 lb 13 oz
Lloyd Tanner / 2003
Scofield Reservoir, Utah
Signature Fact Born sterile, tiger trout skip spawning entirely and channel that energy into freakish growth and unapologetic aggression.
8

Landlocked Salmon

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 50 lb 0 oz
Niels Jørgensen / 1987
Norway
Signature Fact Even trapped in lakes, they keep an ocean compass-orienting to Earth's magnetic field they'll never use.
9

Flathead

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 123 lb 0 oz
Ken Paulie / 1998
Elk City Reservoir, Kansas
Signature Fact The IGFA all-tackle record flathead weighed 123 lb 9 oz-basically a kindergarten kid with whiskers.
10

Lake Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record 72 lb 0 oz
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
Signature Fact A deepwater "siscowet" morph packs ~35% body fat-so oily 1800s fishermen rendered it for lamp oil.

FAQs

What fish can you catch in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s freshwater gives you yellow walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, muskellunge, tiger trout, landlocked salmon, flathead, and lake trout.

What is the best time of year to fish in Minnesota?

Spring through early fall brings the most action across Minnesota’s freshwater, especially for walleye and bass.

Where are the best places to fish in Minnesota?

Minnesota has prime freshwater almost everywhere. Lakes, rivers, and backwaters all hold species like pike, bass, and crappie.

What gear do you need for fishing in Minnesota?

Bring medium to heavy tackle for pike and walleye, plus lighter spinning setups for bass or crappie. Versatile gear gets the job done.

What are the easiest fish to catch in Minnesota?

Black crappie, largemouth bass, and yellow walleye are often the most accessible targets in Minnesota’s freshwater.

Species Speed Run

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