Brown trout across Minnesota
Where brown trout live in Minnesota, with limits.
- 5 combined total (onlimit
- 16 lb 12 ozrecord
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not of a Minnesota water: Eric Engbretson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
brown trout in the state
In DNR terms, Brown trout is part of the trout and salmon family. Limit (streams statewide except southeast minnesota (see below)): 5 combined total (only 1 over 16″); season April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026.
A 16 lb 12 oz fish from Lake Superior in 1989 holds the record. 20 lakes carry it on their DNR survey list, 22 with pages on this site. The highest gill net catch rate on a lake with a page here is 20 per net at Lucky Lake.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The DNR on brown trout
“Southeastern Minnesota has mostly brown trout, native to Germany, and rainbow trout, native to the western United States. Both varieties were introduced to Minnesota in the late 1800s.”
“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.”
“Most trout streams are in southeastern Minnesota and along the North Shore. The southern streams have mainly browns with some rainbows and, in the cold clear headwaters, brook trout. The northern streams have mostly brook trout. Lake trout are found in Lake Superior and in many deep, cold, clean northern lakes.”
- Brown trout: large dark spots and red dots on brown body; square tail.identification
- Southeastern Minnesota has mostly brown trout, native to Germany, and rainbow trout, native to the western United States.identification
- Both varieties were introduced to Minnesota in the late 1800s.habitat
- Both were introduced to Minnesota in the late 1800s.habitat
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Minnesota limits for brown 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 | 5 (combined total brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout is 5); minimum size 10", only 1 over 16" | Continuous |
| 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.
Record brown trout from Minnesota
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 16 lb 12 oz | Lake Superior | St. Louis | 1989 |
| catch and release | 30.25 in | Lake Superior | Cook | 2026 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Lakes where DNR gill nets caught the most brown trout
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Lake | 20 | 1.61 | 2011 | |
| Deepwater Lake | 17 | 3.1 | 2014 | |
| Kremer Lake | 14 | 1.55 | 2008 | |
| Donna Lake | 10 | 0.37 | 2019 | |
| Chester Lake | 6 | 1.51 | 2024 | |
| Dry Lake | 5 | 2.36 | 2023 | |
| Jackal Lake | 1 | 4.62 | 1992 | |
| Mirror Lake, St. Louis County | 1 | 3.99 | 2001 | |
| Big Watab Lake | 0.5 | 1.22 | 2023 | |
| Mott Pit | 0.33 | 2.27 | 2024 | |
| Upper Gull Lake | 0.33 | 2.02 | 2025 | |
| Grindstone Lake | 0.07 | 1.12 | 2025 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters holding brown trout
Lakes for brown trout
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Grindstone Lake533 acres
- Upper Gull Lake422 acres
- Big Watab Lake246 acres
- Miner's Pit141 acres
- Dry Lake82 acres
- Kremer Lake78 acres
- Esther Lake78 acres
- Kimball Lake, Cook County77 acres
- Chester Lake52 acres
- Island Lake, Clearwater County44 acres
- Loon Lake, Aitkin County34 acres
- Jackal Lake31 acres
- Brawner Lake30 acres
- Deepwater Lake22 acres
- Mirror Lake, St. Louis County19 acres
- Thompson Lake, Cook County18 acres
- Glacier Pond 118 acres
- Donna Lake18 acres
- Mott Pit18 acres
- Little Dry Lake15 acres
- Lucky Lake14 acres
Creeks for brown trout
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
- 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
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Guided trips for brown 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
More fish near brown trout on the list
- Lake trouttrout and salmon family
- Brook 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
Lakes and rivers near Brown trout in photos
Photo: Wikideas1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: EricWoodbury8301, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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brown trout questions with short answers
What is the daily Minnesota limit for brown trout?
5 combined total (only 1 over 16") (Streams statewide except Southeast Minnesota (see below)), season April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026.
How heavy is the record brown trout?
16 lb 12 oz from Lake Superior (1989).
Which lakes are best for brown trout?
Lucky Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 20 per net; 231 waters on this site list it.
Are brown trout stocked in Minnesota?
25 rows on the DNR area stocking pages, such as Chester Creek.
How can I tell a brown trout when I land one?
Brown trout: large dark spots and red dots on brown body; square tail.
When is brown trout season in Minnesota?
April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026
What does a license for brown trout cost?
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.
Do outfitters target brown trout?
6 guides list it, including Action Fishing Charters.
Go fishing for brown trout
Open a lake above for accesses and limits.