Smallmouth buffalo across Minnesota
Minnesota rules, records and lakes for smallmouth buffalo.
- No limitlimit
- 20 lb 0 ozrecord
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Minnesota smallmouth buffalo at a glance
Smallmouth buffalo belongs to the sucker family on the DNR list. For inland waters (statewide), the limit reads No limit with a season of Continuous.
The state record is 20 lb 0 oz, taken from Big Sandy in 2003. DNR surveys list it in 15 lakes; 17 of them have a page here. The best gill net rate belongs to Frontenac Lake, Goodhue County: 4 per net.
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| 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.
Heaviest smallmouth buffalo on record
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 20 lb 0 oz | Big Sandy | Aitkin | 2003 |
| catch and release | 32.5 in | St. Croix River | Washington | 2025 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Highest smallmouth buffalo survey catch
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontenac Lake, Goodhue County | 4 | 3.55 | 1981 | |
| St. Croix River | 0.55 | 6.36 | 2024 | |
| Lake Pepin | 0.42 | 2.5 | 2024 | |
| Lake Winona | 0.4 | 12.24 | 2016 | |
| Long Lake, Ramsey County | 0.2 | 4.59 | 2021 | |
| Long Lake near Richmond, Stearns County, 487 acres | 0.11 | 9.38 | 2018 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Where DNR surveys place smallmouth buffalo
Big lakes for smallmouth buffalo
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- St. Croix River8,393 acres
- Big Sandy Lake6,125 acres
- Spring Lake, Dakota County1,494 acres
- Lake Byllesby1,368 acres
- Circle Lake, Rice County838 acres
- Minnetaga Lake791 acres
- Big Swan Lake, Meeker County684 acres
- Bright Lake, Martin County639 acres
- Long Lake near Richmond, Stearns County, 487 acres487 acres
- Mississippi River Pool 1471 acres
- Lake Winona308 acres
- Duck Lake, Blue Earth County290 acres
- Long Lake, Ramsey County173 acres
- Frontenac Lake, Goodhue County79 acres
- Sweeney Lake68 acres
- Charley Lake37 acres
Flowing water with smallmouth buffalo
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Species grouped with smallmouth buffalo
- Bigmouth buffalosucker family
- White suckersucker family
- Shorthead redhorsesucker family
- Silver redhorsesucker family
- Quillbacksucker family
Shorelines around Smallmouth buffalo
Photo: Pete Nelson ( PeteNelson at English Wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, CC0
Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers before you chase smallmouth buffalo
Which Minnesota rules govern keeping smallmouth buffalo?
No limit (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
What is the biggest smallmouth buffalo caught in Minnesota?
20 lb 0 oz from Big Sandy (2003).
Which Minnesota waters hold smallmouth buffalo?
Frontenac Lake, Goodhue County leads the DNR gill net catch at 4 per net; 18 waters on this site list it.
Does the DNR stock smallmouth buffalo?
The stocking pages here do not list it.
Which features mark smallmouth buffalo?
See the DNR profile.
Does Minnesota close the season on smallmouth buffalo?
Continuous
Which license do smallmouth buffalo anglers buy in Minnesota?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Can I hire a trip for smallmouth buffalo?
All Minnesota operators are on the guides page.
Fish for smallmouth buffalo this season
Every listed water opens its own Minnesota page.