Bigmouth buffalo across Minnesota
Limits, records and DNR survey waters for bigmouth buffalo.
- No limitlimit
- 41 lb 11 ozrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Pepin: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
bigmouth buffalo across Minnesota
Minnesota anglers meet Bigmouth buffalo, a member of the sucker family. Under the DNR row for inland waters (statewide): No limit, Continuous.
The Minnesota record weighed 41 lb 11 oz, from Pool 4 Mississippi River (1991). Look for it in 213 surveyed lakes; 225 are on this site. Lura Lake tops the gill net catch at 60.25 per net.
What the DNR writes about bigmouth buffalo
“The bigmouth buffalo, the largest member of the sucker family, lives in lakes and rivers in most of Minnesota except for the Lake Superior watershed. Unlike many fish, it can survive in cloudy, warm water. Unlike other members of the sucker family, the bigmouth buffalo has a mouth at the front of its face. It looks like a carp without barbels. They can grow 3 feet long or longer and weigh more than 50 pounds. Bigmouth buffalo range in color from green to gold to almost black. They have a coppery sheen.”
- Unlike other members of the sucker family, the bigmouth buffalo has a mouth at the front of its face.identification
- It looks like a carp without barbels.identification
- The bigmouth buffalo, the largest member of the sucker family, lives in lakes and rivers in most of Minnesota except for the Lake Superior watershed.habitat
- Bigmouth buffalo range in color from green to gold to almost black.habitat
- buffaloalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Bag and season for bigmouth buffalo
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | No limit | Continuous |
| Inland waters | No limit | Early season March 1 – April 30 (south of Hwy 210, lakes and Minnesota/Mississippi/St. Croix rivers, from a bo |
| Inland waters | No limit | Spearing April 25, 2026 – Feb. 14, 2027; harpooning, dip net and seine May 1, 2026 – Feb. 14, 2027 (sunrise to |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
bigmouth buffalo in the DNR record tables
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 41 lb 11 oz | Pool 4 Mississippi River | Goodhue | 1991 |
| catch and release | 36.25 in | Sweeney Lake | Hennepin | 2026 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
bigmouth buffalo per gill net, best lakes
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lura Lake | 60.25 | 0.3 | 0.17 | 2023 |
| Little Waverly Lake | 33.17 | 0.8-7.0 | 0.25 | 2024 |
| Bear Lake, Freeborn County | 26 | 0.8-7.0 | 0.63 | 2009 |
| Rice Lake, Aitkin County | 22 | 16.4 | 2019 | |
| Lillian Lake, Kandiyohi County | 21.67 | 0.8-7.0 | 0.32 | 2021 |
| Crystal Lake, Blue Earth County | 19.75 | 0.8-7.0 | 2.74 | 2022 |
| Flahtery Lake | 18 | 0.8-7.0 | 2.39 | 2023 |
| Winsted Lake | 17.44 | 0.8-7.0 | 1.01 | 2021 |
| Heron Lake (South Heron) | 16.33 | 0.3-6.1 | 0.22 | 2023 |
| Emily Lake, Le Sueur County | 16.17 | 11.6 | 1.81 | 2023 |
| Ocheda Lake | 16 | 0.3-6.1 | 0.31 | 2009 |
| Fox Lake, Martin County | 15.2 | 0.3-1.7 | 1.94 | 2025 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters for bigmouth buffalo
Lake pages listing bigmouth buffalo
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Big Stone Lake11,984 acres
- Traverse Lake10,849 acres
- St. Croix River8,393 acres
- Lake Minnewaska8,050 acres
- Big Sandy Lake6,125 acres
- Lac qui Parle5,741 acres
- Green Lake, Kandiyohi County5,569 acres
- Marsh, Big Stone County4,462 acres
- Christina Lake3,971 acres
- Pelican Lake, Otter Tail County3,962 acres
- Pelican Lake, Grant County3,761 acres
- Rice Lake, Aitkin County3,684 acres
- Shetek Lake3,462 acres
- Lake Waconia3,080 acres
- Koronis Lake (main lake)2,968 acres
- Big Kandiyohi Lake2,730 acres
- Albert Lea Lake2,669 acres
- Heron Lake (South Heron)2,641 acres
- Mud Lake, Traverse County2,449 acres
- Washington Lake, Meeker County2,438 acres
- Minnewawa Lake2,351 acres
- Norway Lake, Kandiyohi County2,339 acres
- Bay, Crow Wing County2,330 acres
River pages listing bigmouth buffalo
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Relatives of bigmouth buffalo
- Smallmouth buffalosucker family
- White suckersucker family
- Shorthead redhorsesucker family
- Silver redhorsesucker family
- Quillbacksucker family
Water you can reach from Bigmouth buffalo, pictured
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
What Minnesota anglers ask about bigmouth buffalo
Which size rule covers bigmouth buffalo in Minnesota?
No limit (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
How heavy is the Minnesota record bigmouth buffalo?
41 lb 11 oz from Pool 4 Mississippi River (1991).
Where do Minnesota anglers find bigmouth buffalo?
Lura Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 60.25 per net; 226 waters on this site list it.
Will the DNR stock bigmouth buffalo this year?
1 row on the DNR area stocking pages, such as McColl.
Which other names does the DNR use for bigmouth buffalo?
Unlike other members of the sucker family, the bigmouth buffalo has a mouth at the front of its face.
Which months allow keeping bigmouth buffalo in Minnesota?
Continuous
Which license do bigmouth buffalo anglers carry in Minnesota?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Which guides target bigmouth buffalo?
No guide lists it.
Chase bigmouth buffalo across Minnesota
Choose any Minnesota lake or stream listed above.