Lake trout across Minnesota
Limits, records and DNR survey waters for lake trout.
- 2limit
- 43 lb 8 ozrecord
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not of a Minnesota water: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
lake trout across Minnesota
Minnesota anglers meet Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), a member of the trout and salmon family. Under the DNR row for statewide inland lakes: 2, May 9 – Sept. 30, 2026.
The Minnesota record weighed 43 lb 8 oz, from Lake Superior near Hovland (1955). Look for it in 72 surveyed lakes; 107 are on this site. Fat Lake tops the gill net catch at 20 per net.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What the DNR writes about lake trout
“Minnesota is one of only a few states with naturally reproducing lake trout populations. Its 116 lake trout lakes is second in number only to Alaska.”
“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.”
“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.”
- Lake trout: white spots on grayish body; forked tail; white leading edge on lower fins.identification
- Differences in morphs were found in physical habitat use, buoyancy, body shape, as well traits that were linked to locomotion and feeding.identification
- Lake trout are found in Lake Superior and in many deep, cold, clean northern lakes.habitat
- A type of large rainbow trout that lives most of its life in Lake Superior and spawns in large North Shore rivers is called a steelhead.habitat
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Bag and season for lake trout
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland lakes | 2 | May 9 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Lakes outside or partly outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness | 2 | 2026 season: Jan. 17 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 16 – March 31 |
| Lakes entirely within the BWCAW | 2 | 2026 season: Jan. 1 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 1 – March 31 |
| Lake Superior and tributaries below posted boundaries | 3 | Dec. 1, 2025 – Oct. 4, 2026; Dec. 1, 2026 – Oct. 3, 2027 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
lake trout in the DNR record tables
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| non certified weight | 43 lb 8 oz | Lake Superior near Hovland | Cook | 1955 |
| catch and release | 45.5 in | Lake Superior | Lake | 2026 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
lake trout per gill net, best lakes
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fat Lake | 20 | 1.39 | 2023 | |
| Moss Lake, Cook County | 19.83 | 0.8-4.3 | 1.11 | 2016 |
| Kek Lake | 18 | 1.0-4.5 | 0.98 | 1988 |
| Peter Lake | 17 | 0.8-4.3 | 0.89 | 2018 |
| Little Trout Lake, Cook County | 16 | 2.07 | 2018 | |
| Paulson Lake | 16 | 0.4-3.7 | 0.89 | 2004 |
| Partridge Lake, Cook County | 15.5 | 1.5 | 2018 | |
| Dunn Lake | 11.67 | 0.3-4.0 | 2.19 | 2013 |
| Daniels Lake | 11.5 | 1.32 | 2018 | |
| Mountain Lake, Cook County | 9.5 | 1.99 | 2011 | |
| Sema Lake | 8.67 | 1.0-4.5 | 1.62 | 2015 |
| Explorer Lake | 8.33 | 1.0-4.5 | 0.91 | 1972 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters for lake trout
Lake pages listing lake trout
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Saganaga Lake18,767 acres
- Trout Lake, St. Louis County7,425 acres
- Burntside Lake7,314 acres
- Knife Lake, Lake County4,919 acres
- Snowbank Lake4,655 acres
- Gunflint Lake4,009 acres
- Sea Gull Lake3,958 acres
- North Lake, Cook County2,349 acres
- Pine Lake, Cook County2,122 acres
- Greenwood Lake, Cook County2,043 acres
- Mountain Lake, Cook County1,993 acres
- Trout Lake near Taconite, Itasca County1,743 acres
- Kekekabic Lake1,689 acres
- Little Saganaga Lake1,627 acres
- Thomas Lake near Winton, Lake County1,465 acres
- Canisteo Pit1,458 acres
- Rose Lake, Cook County1,410 acres
- Big Trout Lake1,366 acres
- Clearwater Lake, Cook County1,344 acres
- Gabimichigami Lake1,186 acres
- South Lake1,145 acres
- Loon Lake, Cook County1,095 acres
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Operators listing lake 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
Relatives of lake trout
- Brook 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
Water you can reach from Lake trout, pictured
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Ben Franske ( BenFranske ) ( BenFranske at en.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
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What Minnesota anglers ask about lake trout
Which size rule covers lake trout in Minnesota?
2 (Statewide inland lakes), season May 9 – Sept. 30, 2026.
How heavy is the Minnesota record lake trout?
43 lb 8 oz from Lake Superior near Hovland (1955).
Where do Minnesota anglers find lake trout?
Fat Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 20 per net; 107 waters on this site list it.
Will the DNR stock lake trout this year?
No stocking row names it.
Which other names does the DNR use for lake trout?
Lake trout: white spots on grayish body; forked tail; white leading edge on lower fins.
Which months allow keeping lake trout in Minnesota?
May 9 – Sept. 30, 2026
Which license do lake trout anglers carry 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.
Which guides target lake trout?
6 guides list it, including Action Fishing Charters.
Chase lake trout across Minnesota
Choose any Minnesota lake or stream listed above.