Rainbow trout across Minnesota
Limits, records and lakes for rainbow trout.
- 5 combined total (onlimit
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not of a Minnesota water: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
About Minnesota rainbow trout
Rainbow trout counts among the trout and salmon family in Minnesota. Anglers may keep 5 combined total (only 1 over 16″) in streams statewide except southeast minnesota (see below), April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026.
It shows up in DNR surveys of 76 lakes (80 with pages here). Diamond Lake, Cass County posted the top gill net rate, 76 per net.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 How the DNR describes rainbow 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.”
- Rainbow trout: pinkish stripe on silvery body; small black dots throughout the body that extend into tail; white mouth; anal fin tip falls to or beyond end of base.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.
rainbow trout limits and seasons
| 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 | 3 (combined total brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout is 5); minimum size 16" | Continuous |
| Lake Superior and tributaries below posted boundaries | Catch-and-release only | Continuous |
| Lake Superior tributaries above posted boundaries | Catch-and-release only | April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
The rainbow trout record
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| catch and release | 30 in | Stewart River | Lake | 2026 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Top rainbow trout catch rates in DNR surveys
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Lake, Cass County | 76 | 0.43 | 2021 | |
| Blacksmith Lake | 54.5 | 0.43 | 2021 | |
| Newman Lake | 44.5 | 0.28 | 2021 | |
| Strawberry Lake, Crow Wing County | 34.5 | 0.53 | 2023 | |
| Crappie Lake | 30.5 | 0.57 | 2021 | |
| Teepee Lake | 17.5 | 0.63 | 2023 | |
| James Lake | 15 | 0.85 | 2024 | |
| Taylor Lake near Hill City, Aitkin County | 15 | 0.54 | 2023 | |
| Leo Lake | 12 | 0.96 | 2025 | |
| Divide Lake | 8.5 | 0.78 | 2022 | |
| Deep Lake, Clearwater County | 8.25 | 0.77 | 2022 | |
| Hanson Lake, Becker County | 8 | 0.64 | 2023 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
rainbow trout across the state
Where to fish lakes for rainbow trout
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Bad Medicine Lake803 acres
- Grindstone Lake533 acres
- Blue Lake, Hubbard County336 acres
- High Lake274 acres
- Mahnomen, Alstead & Arco Lake272 acres
- Trout Lake, Cook County259 acres
- Big Watab Lake246 acres
- Birch Lake, Cook County236 acres
- Mayhew Lake, Cook County221 acres
- Long Lake near Shevlin, Clearwater County159 acres
- Portsmouth Mine Lake149 acres
- Miner's Pit141 acres
- Tofte Lake134 acres
- St James Pit124 acres
- Sagamore Mine Lake119 acres
- Huntington Mine Lake106 acres
- Leo Lake102 acres
- Briar Lake79 acres
- Kremer Lake78 acres
- Esther Lake78 acres
- Diamond Lake, Cass County77 acres
- Kimball Lake, Cook County77 acres
- Quarry Lake70 acres
Rivers and creeks for rainbow 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.
Outfitters who list rainbow 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 listed with rainbow trout
- Lake trouttrout and salmon family
- Brook trouttrout and salmon family
- Brown 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
Pictures of water close to Rainbow trout
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pete Nelson ( PeteNelson at English Wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Handy answers on rainbow trout
May Minnesota anglers keep rainbow trout?
5 combined total (only 1 over 16") (Streams statewide except Southeast Minnesota (see below)), season April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026.
Which Minnesota water gave up the record rainbow trout?
30 in from Stewart River (2026).
Which lakes hold rainbow trout?
Diamond Lake, Cass County leads the DNR gill net catch at 76 per net; 288 waters on this site list it.
Where does the DNR stock rainbow trout?
35 rows on the DNR area stocking pages, such as Briar Lake.
How do I tell rainbow trout from similar fish?
Rainbow trout: pinkish stripe on silvery body; small black dots throughout the body that extend into tail; white mouth; anal fin tip falls to or beyond end of base.
When does Minnesota rainbow trout season open and close?
April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026
Do kids need a license for rainbow trout?
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 list rainbow trout?
6 guides list it, including Action Fishing Charters.
Plan a Minnesota rainbow trout trip
Pick a lake from the lists on this page.