Brook trout across Minnesota
Minnesota rules, records and lakes for brook trout.
- 5 combined total (onlimit
- 6 lb 5 ozrecord
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not of a Minnesota water: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 2.5
Minnesota brook trout at a glance
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) belongs to the trout and salmon family on the DNR list. For streams statewide except southeast minnesota (see below), the limit reads 5 combined total (only 1 over 16″) with a season of April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026.
The state record is 6 lb 5 oz, taken from Pigeon River in 2000. DNR surveys list it in 82 lakes; 96 of them have a page here. The best gill net rate belongs to Feather Lake: 49 per net.
For the brook trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 DNR notes on brook trout
“Brook trout are native to Minnesota. You'll find them in streams along the North Shore and in the clean, cold headwaters of southeastern Minnesota trout streams.”
“Minnesota has two native trout species: the brook trout ("brookies") and the lake trout. These species belong to a group of trout know as char.”
“The other trout now in this state are brown trout and rainbow trout. Both were introduced to Minnesota in the late 1800s. The rainbow is native to western North America and the brown is native to Germany. Brown trout are the hardiest of the trout species and as a result can tolerate water warmer and less clear than rainbows and especially brook trout require.”
- Brook trout: light, wormlike markings on dark upper body; white leading edge on lower fins. To tell a brook trout from a splake from a lake trout, look at the tail.identification
- The other trout now in this state are brown trout and rainbow trout.identification
- You'll find them in streams along the North Shore and in the clean, cold headwaters of southeastern Minnesota trout streams.habitat
- Both were introduced to Minnesota in the late 1800s.habitat
- brookiesalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Rules for keeping brook trout
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Streams statewide except Southeast Minnesota (see below) | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Southeast Minnesota (Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha, Dakota and Goodhue counties) | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 10, 2026 |
| Southeast Minnesota (Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha, Dakota and Goodhue counties) | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 |
| Southeast Minnesota (Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha, Dakota and Goodhue counties) | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Southeast Minnesota (Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha, Dakota and Goodhue counties) | Closed to fishing | Oct. 16 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Southeast Minnesota (Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha, Dakota and Goodhue counties) | Catch-and-release only | Jan. 1 – April 9, 2027 |
| Streams within Southeast Minnesota state parks (Beaver Creek Valley, Forestville, Whitewater) and city boundar | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 15, 2025 – April 10, 2026; Sept. 15, 2026 – April 9, 2027 |
| Streams within Southeast Minnesota state parks and city boundaries | 5 combined total (only 1 over 16") | April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026 |
| Lakes statewide | 5 combined total (not more than 3 over 16") | May 9 – Oct. 31, 2026 |
| Lakes outside or partly outside the BWCAW | 5 combined total (not more than 3 over 16") | 2026 season: Jan. 17 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 16 – March 31 |
| Lakes entirely within the BWCAW | 5 combined total (not more than 3 over 16") | 2026 season: Jan. 1 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 1 – March 31 |
| Little Andrus (Snowshoe), Cass County; Allen and Pleasant, Crow Wing County; Bad Medicine, Becker County | Winter season closed for stream trout | Winter season closed for stream trout |
| Lake Superior and tributaries below posted boundaries | 1 (combined total brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout is 5); minimum size 20" | April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Lake Superior tributaries above posted boundaries | 5 combined total; only 1 over 16" | April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Heaviest brook trout on record
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 6 lb 5 oz | Pigeon River | Cook | 2000 |
| catch and release | 19.25 in | Lake Superior | Lake | 2026 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Highest brook trout survey catch
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feather Lake | 49 | 0.28 | 2021 | |
| Loft Lake | 41.5 | 0.43 | 2021 | |
| Wench Lake | 27.5 | 0.49 | 2021 | |
| Steamhaul Lake | 26 | 0.72 | 2005 | |
| Shoofly Lake | 24.5 | 0.57 | 2021 | |
| Manymoon Lake | 23 | 0.52 | 1976 | |
| Neglige Lake | 20.5 | 1.04 | 2015 | |
| Carrot Lake | 20 | 0.65 | 2015 | |
| Little Andrus Lake | 15.67 | 0.65 | 1989 | |
| Trygg Lake | 15.5 | 1.34 | 2025 | |
| Vale Lake | 14.5 | 1.36 | 2015 | |
| Alruss Lake | 14 | 0.7 | 2024 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Where DNR surveys place brook trout
Big lakes for brook trout
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Kabekona Lake2,433 acres
- Greenwood Lake, Cook County2,043 acres
- South Lake1,145 acres
- Pike Lake, Cook County814 acres
- Grindstone Lake533 acres
- Whitefish Lake, Lake County346 acres
- High Lake274 acres
- Trout Lake, Cook County259 acres
- LaSalle Creek238 acres
- Balsam Lake, Lake County221 acres
- Monker Lake93 acres
- Morgan Lake, Cook County84 acres
- Dragon Lake79 acres
- Lost Lake, Cook County76 acres
- Fay Lake71 acres
- Dyers Lake70 acres
- Cramer Lake68 acres
- Gogebic Lake62 acres
- Found Lake60 acres
- Mink Lake, Cook County57 acres
- Taylor Lake near Hill City, Aitkin County55 acres
- Rog Lake54 acres
- Honker Lake50 acres
Flowing water with brook trout
- St. Louis RiverSt. Louis
- Whitewater RiverWinona
- Redwood RiverLyon
- Vermillion RiverDakota
- Little Isabella RiverLake
- Ash RiverSt. Louis
- Blackhoof RiverCarlton
- Little Rock CreekMorrison
- Brule RiverCook
- Clearwater River, Beltrami CountyBeltrami
- Irish CreekCook
- Necktie RiverHubbard
- East Two RiverSt. Louis
- Moose Horn RiverCarlton
- Nemadji RiverCarlton
- Whitewater River, North BranchWabasha
- Knife River, Lake CountyLake
- Beaver RiverLake
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Guides naming brook trout
- Action Fishing ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (218) 355-8540
- Angler Management ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (218) 390-7933
- Grand Marais ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Grand Marais, (218) 370-5800
- Reel SwedeLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, (218) 387-4159
- Superior Pursuits Charter FishingLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Duluth, (906) 360-7513
- Tofte ChartersLake Superior charter, Lake Superior, Schroeder, (218) 663-9932
Species grouped with brook trout
- Lake trouttrout and salmon family
- Brown trouttrout and salmon family
- Rainbow trouttrout and salmon family
- Steelheadtrout and salmon family
- Splaketrout and salmon family
- Tiger trouttrout and salmon family
- Chinook salmontrout and salmon family
- Coho salmontrout and salmon family
- Pink salmontrout and salmon family
- Atlantic salmontrout and salmon family
- Kokanee salmontrout and salmon family
- Lake whitefishtrout and salmon family
Shorelines around Brook trout
Photo: Wikideas1, CC0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Photo: Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jimmy Dreger, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers before you chase brook trout
Which Minnesota rules govern keeping brook trout?
5 combined total (only 1 over 16") (Streams statewide except Southeast Minnesota (see below)), season April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026.
What is the biggest brook trout caught in Minnesota?
6 lb 5 oz from Pigeon River (2000).
Which Minnesota waters hold brook trout?
Feather Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 49 per net; 304 waters on this site list it.
Does the DNR stock brook trout?
2 rows on the DNR area stocking pages, such as Courthouse.
Which features mark brook trout?
Brook trout: light, wormlike markings on dark upper body; white leading edge on lower fins. To tell a brook trout from a splake from a lake trout, look at the tail.
Does Minnesota close the season on brook trout?
April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026
Which license do brook trout anglers buy in Minnesota?
Designated trout water takes a Minnesota angling license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) and the $10 trout and salmon stamp validation for ages 18 to 64.
Can I hire a trip for brook trout?
6 guides list it, including Action Fishing Charters.
Fish for brook trout this season
Every listed water opens its own Minnesota page.