White sucker across Minnesota
Where white sucker live in Minnesota, with limits.
- No limitlimit
- 9 lb 1 ozrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake of the Woods: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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white sucker in the state
In DNR terms, White sucker is part of the sucker family. Limit (inland waters (statewide)): No limit; season Continuous.
A 9 lb 1 oz fish from Big Fish Lake in 1983 holds the record. 1,763 lakes carry it on their DNR survey list, 2,330 with pages on this site. The highest gill net catch rate on a lake with a page here is 159 per net at Bean Lake, Lake County.
The DNR on white sucker
“The white sucker is one of most common fish in Minnesota. It lives in streams and lakes throughout the state particularly in the northeast. It can live in water that is fairly polluted. It is grown in ponds and sold for bait.”
“Like other suckers, this medium-sized fish has big lips, no teeth, and soft fins. It is greenish on top and light-colored beneath, with scales increasing in size from front to back. Young white suckers have three large dark spots on each side of their body.”
- Like other suckers, this medium-sized fish has big lips, no teeth, and soft fins.identification
- It is greenish on top and light-colored beneath, with scales increasing in size from front to back.identification
- It lives in streams and lakes throughout the state particularly in the northeast.habitat
- It can live in water that is fairly polluted.habitat
- suckeralso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Minnesota limits for white sucker
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | No limit | Continuous |
| Inland waters | 50 each | Early season March 1 – April 30 (south of Hwy 210, lakes and Minnesota/Mississippi/St. Croix rivers, from a bo |
| Inland waters | 50 | Spearing May 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 (sunrise to sunset) |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Record white sucker from Minnesota
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 9 lb 1 oz | Big Fish Lake | Stearns | 1983 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Lakes where DNR gill nets caught the most white sucker
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean Lake, Lake County | 159 | 1.7-12.5 | 0.32 | 2024 |
| Split Rock Reservoir | 142 | 0.5-7.4 | 0.48 | 2025 |
| Kindle Lake | 137 | 0.04 | 2003 | |
| Red Dot Lake | 116 | 0.11 | 2006 | |
| Winona Lake | 100 | 0.5-7.4 | 0.81 | 2021 |
| Cramer Homestead Lake | 96.5 | 1.0-8.9 | 0.52 | 2004 |
| Manganika Lake | 78 | 2.0-11.5 | 1.1 | 1989 |
| Edith Lake near Grand Marais, Cook County, 35 acres | 74.5 | 4.0-14.5 | 0.52 | 2015 |
| Beaver Hut Lake | 66.75 | 5.3-22.1 | 0.3 | 2018 |
| Beaver Lake, Cook County | 62 | 0.33 | 1980 | |
| Onion Lake | 61 | 3.0-23.0 | 1.07 | 1986 |
| Abita Lake | 58.33 | 3.6-14.1 | 0.63 | 1990 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters holding white sucker
Lakes for white sucker
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Rainy Lake, St. Louis County210,200 acres
- Mille Lacs Lake128,250 acres
- Red Lake (Upper Red)119,294 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Lake Winnibigoshish56,471 acres
- Vermilion Lake39,272 acres
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Basswood Lake25,953 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Kabetogama Lake24,034 acres
- Saganaga Lake18,767 acres
- Cass Lake15,958 acres
- Lake Minnetonka14,206 acres
- Otter Tail Lake14,079 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Big Stone Lake11,984 acres
- Pelican Lake, St. Louis County11,546 acres
- Traverse Lake10,849 acres
- Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County10,360 acres
- St. Louis River Estuary10,255 acres
- Gull Lake, Cass County10,010 acres
- Bowstring Lake9,528 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
Creeks for white sucker
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
- St. Louis RiverSt. Louis
- Red Lake RiverPolk
- Vermilion RiverSt. Louis
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
- Island RiverLake
- Mustinka RiverGrant
- Cross RiverCook
- Hay Creek, Goodhue CountyGoodhue
- Hay Creek, Pine CountyPine
- Hay Creek, Carlton CountyCarlton
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
More fish near white sucker on the list
- Bigmouth buffalosucker family
- Smallmouth buffalosucker family
- Shorthead redhorsesucker family
- Silver redhorsesucker family
- Quillbacksucker family
Lakes and rivers near White sucker in photos
Photo: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Ronfar623 on en.wikipedia, CC BY 1.0
white sucker questions with short answers
What is the daily Minnesota limit for white sucker?
No limit (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
How heavy is the record white sucker?
9 lb 1 oz from Big Fish Lake (1983).
Which lakes are best for white sucker?
Bean Lake, Lake County leads the DNR gill net catch at 159 per net; 2,341 waters on this site list it.
Are white sucker stocked in Minnesota?
No DNR stocking row covers it.
How can I tell a white sucker when I land one?
Like other suckers, this medium-sized fish has big lips, no teeth, and soft fins.
When is white sucker season in Minnesota?
Continuous
What does a license for white sucker cost?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Do outfitters target white sucker?
No listing names it.
Go fishing for white sucker
Open a lake above for accesses and limits.