Minnesota Trout Streams

Every DNR designated trout stream by county, with southeast and North Shore rules and trout lakes.

Photo of Whitewater River: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0

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At a glance

Designated trout streams in Minnesota

The DNR designates 630 named streams as trout water on its trout stream layer, about 2,905 miles in all. 163 sit in the southeast counties, where catch-and-release seasons run in winter and fall, and 258 are North Shore streams that reach Lake Superior.

This page lists the 207 streams with their own page by county, the 423 smaller streams that appear on county pages, and 166 trout lakes with pages.

630designated streams

2,905trout miles

163southeast streams

166trout lakes

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By county

Trout stream pages by county

Beltrami County

Clearwater River, Beltrami County16 trout miles

Carlton County

Blackhoof River0.1 trout miles
Clear Creek near Barnum, Carlton County6.2 trout miles
Clear Creek near Wrenshall, Carlton County6.6 trout miles
Deer Creek6.3 trout miles
Fond du Lac Creek5.3 trout miles
Hay Creek, Carlton County7.2 trout miles
Hunters Creek5.2 trout miles
Little Otter Creek8.2 trout miles
Moose Horn River9.2 trout miles
Mud Creek, Carlton County9.8 trout miles
Nemadji Creek10.8 trout miles
Nemadji River30 trout miles
Nemadji River, South Fork16.4 trout miles
Net River14.7 trout miles
Rock Creek8.1 trout miles
Skunk Creek, Carlton County8.3 trout miles
State Line Creek8.2 trout miles

Cass County

Farnham Creek10.6 trout miles
Stoney Brook15.2 trout miles

Chisago County

County Ditch 36.2 trout miles

Clay County

Felton Creek12.2 trout miles

Clearwater County

Buckboard Creek6.7 trout miles

Cook County

Assinika Creek7.9 trout miles
Bally Creek4.5 trout miles
Barker Creek7.4 trout miles
Beaverdam Creek5.4 trout miles
Brule River17.2 trout miles
Caribou Creek6.5 trout miles
Carlson Creek6.2 trout miles
Cascade River17.1 trout miles
Cliff Creek4.2 trout miles
Cross River0.1 trout miles
Cut Face Creek2.6 trout miles
Durfee Creek4.8 trout miles
East Colville Creek2.9 trout miles
Elbow Creek6.7 trout miles
Farquhar Creek2.5 trout miles
Fiddle Creek4.3 trout miles
Gauthier Creek3.1 trout miles
Grand Portage River5 trout miles
Hollow Rock Creek5.7 trout miles
Indian Camp Creek2.3 trout miles
Irish Creek6.6 trout miles
Jonvick Creek4.2 trout miles
Junco Creek11.1 trout miles
Kimball Creek8.1 trout miles
Little Brule Creek4.3 trout miles
Little Mississippi Creek5.7 trout miles
Mark Creek4.4 trout miles
Mississippi Creek9.8 trout miles
Mistletoe Creek7 trout miles
Mons Creek4 trout miles
Myhr Creek2.7 trout miles
Portage Brook9.6 trout miles
Rollins Creek3.4 trout miles
Sawbill Creek4.4 trout miles
Section 16 Creek1.1 trout miles
Sixmile Creek6.6 trout miles
Spruce Creek, Cook County5.5 trout miles
Stone Creek4.2 trout miles
Two Island River14.1 trout miles
Woods Creek3.6 trout miles

Dakota County

Vermillion River16.9 trout miles

Fillmore County

Camp Creek0.1 trout miles
Canfield Creek1.6 trout miles
Duschee Creek7.1 trout miles
Forestville Creek2.2 trout miles
Gribben Creek0 trout miles
Kedron Creek1.1 trout miles
Lost Creek6.7 trout miles
Mahoods Creek0.2 trout miles
Rice Creek, Fillmore County8.1 trout miles
Spring Valley Creek near Wykoff, Fillmore County0 trout miles
Spring Valley Creek near Wykoff, Fillmore County, 0.1 mi0.1 trout miles
Watson Creek14.2 trout miles
Willow Creek8.8 trout miles
Wisel Creek8.5 trout miles

Goodhue County

Belle Creek0.2 trout miles
Hay Creek, Goodhue County15.7 trout miles
Spring Creek, Goodhue County7.2 trout miles

Houston County

Beaver Creek6.4 trout miles
Beaver Creek, East2.2 trout miles
Campbell Creek4.6 trout miles
Crooked Creek, Houston County11.5 trout miles
Riceford Creek0 trout miles
Thompson Creek9.4 trout miles
Winnebago Creek0.1 trout miles

Hubbard County

Bungoshine Creek6.9 trout miles
Kabekona River17.5 trout miles
Necktie River0.2 trout miles
Straight River, Hubbard County16.2 trout miles

Itasca County

Morrison Brook11 trout miles
Sand Creek, Itasca County7.1 trout miles
Smith Creek7.6 trout miles
Stony Brook7.3 trout miles

Koochiching County

Dinner Creek21.6 trout miles
Valley River16.6 trout miles

Lake County

Arrowhead Creek16 trout miles
Baptism River, East Branch0.2 trout miles
Beaver River22 trout miles
Beaver River, East Branch20.3 trout miles
Big Thirtynine Creek9.7 trout miles
Caribou River13.5 trout miles
Castle Danger Creek1.6 trout miles
Cloudy Spring Creek5.1 trout miles
Crow Creek6.2 trout miles
Dago Creek6.3 trout miles
Dragon Creek2.3 trout miles
Dumbbell River12.4 trout miles
Gooseberry River0.1 trout miles
Hockamin Creek10.3 trout miles
Houghtaling Creek8.6 trout miles
Inga Creek7.9 trout miles
Jack Pine Creek6.8 trout miles
Junction Creek5.5 trout miles
Kit Creek6.8 trout miles
Knife River, Lake County22.8 trout miles
Lindstrom Creek4 trout miles
Little Isabella River30.4 trout miles
Little Thirtynine Creek6.5 trout miles
Mink Creek6.7 trout miles
Mitawan Creek12.6 trout miles
Moose Creek4.3 trout miles
Murphy Creek13.3 trout miles
Nicado Creek4.7 trout miles
Palisade Creek4.8 trout miles
Sawmill Creek7.2 trout miles
Scott Creek7.3 trout miles
Silver Creek, Lake County12.1 trout miles
Skunk Creek, Lake County10.9 trout miles
Split Rock River, East Branch14.3 trout miles
Stony Creek4.5 trout miles
Sullivan Creek6.2 trout miles
Trappers Creek5.7 trout miles
Twin Points Creek1.8 trout miles
West Camp Creek7.3 trout miles
Whyte Creek5.4 trout miles

Lyon County

Redwood River6.3 trout miles

Morrison County

Little Rock Creek18.4 trout miles

Olmsted County

Logan Creek5.8 trout miles
Mill Creek6.8 trout miles

Otter Tail County

Spruce Creek, Otter Tail County6.9 trout miles

Pine County

Crooked Creek, Pine County9.1 trout miles
Crooked Creek, West Fork7.6 trout miles
Hay Creek, Pine County11.3 trout miles
Sand Creek, Pine County7.7 trout miles

Scott County

Eagle Creek1.9 trout miles
Eagle Creek, East Branch0.5 trout miles

St. Louis County

Amity Creek9.4 trout miles
Amity Creek, East Branch7.3 trout miles
Ash River26.4 trout miles
Beartrap Creek0.1 trout miles
Berry Creek20.8 trout miles
Big Sucker Creek17.1 trout miles
Black Duck River12.9 trout miles
Captain Jacobson Creek4.5 trout miles
Chester Creek5 trout miles
Chicken Creek0.1 trout miles
Coolidge Creek5 trout miles
Dutch Slough4.7 trout miles
East Two River10.4 trout miles
French River12.2 trout miles
Gimlet Creek5.5 trout miles
Hellwig Creek11.4 trout miles
Indian Creek4.7 trout miles
Johnson Creek6.1 trout miles
Keene Creek7.6 trout miles
Kingsbury Creek6 trout miles
Knife River, West Branch0.1 trout miles
Knowlton Creek1.9 trout miles
Lester River0.3 trout miles
Miller Creek8.9 trout miles
Mission Creek6.3 trout miles
Mud Creek, St. Louis County4.2 trout miles
Ninemile Creek7 trout miles
Rocky Run0 trout miles
Sargent Creek6.3 trout miles
Schmidt Creek0.6 trout miles
Stanley Creek7.7 trout miles
Stoney Brook, Martin Branch4 trout miles
Tischer Creek5.9 trout miles
Us-kab-wan-ka River17.8 trout miles
West Rocky Run6.8 trout miles

Stearns County

Robinson Hill Creek6.7 trout miles

Wabasha County

East Indian Creek11.1 trout miles
Gilbert Creek8.4 trout miles
Long Creek8.3 trout miles
Spring Creek, Wabasha County8.2 trout miles
Trout Brook8 trout miles
West Indian Creek6 trout miles
Whitewater River, North Branch23.4 trout miles

Wadena County

Union Creek9.8 trout miles

Wilkin County

Lawndale Creek7.8 trout miles

Winona County

Cedar Valley Creek8.5 trout miles
Garvin Brook13.1 trout miles
Pickwick Creek7.7 trout miles
Pleasant Valley Creek6.3 trout miles
Rollingstone Creek10.5 trout miles
Rush Creek20.4 trout miles
Stockton Valley Creek6.5 trout miles
Trout Run1.2 trout miles
Trout Run Creek12.8 trout miles
Trout Valley Creek6.5 trout miles
Whitewater River12.3 trout miles
Whitewater River, Middle Branch14.3 trout miles

Yellow Medicine County

Canby Creek8.6 trout miles

DNR designated trout stream layer.

More streams

Designated streams listed on county pages

County	Streams
Aitkin County	2
Becker County	5
Beltrami County	3
Benton County	1
Brown County	2
Carlton County	16
Carver County	1
Cass County	14
Chisago County	1
Clearwater County	8
Cook County	59
Cottonwood County	1
Crow Wing County	10
Dakota County	5
Fillmore County	26
Goodhue County	8
Houston County	25
Hubbard County	9
Itasca County	9
Koochiching County	3
Lake County	58
Lake of the Woods County	2
Le Sueur County	1
Mahnomen County	3
Meeker County	1
Morrison County	1
Mower County	3
Nicollet County	1
Olmsted County	2
Otter Tail County	7
Pine County	16
Polk County	1
Redwood County	1
Rice County	1
Roseau County	1
St. Louis County	41
Stearns County	12
Todd County	4
Wabasha County	11
Wadena County	3
Washington County	8
Winona County	37

Rules

Stream trout seasons and limits

Species	Limit	Season
Stream trout (brook, brown, rainbow, splake and hybrids) – streams	5 combined total (only 1 over 16")	April 11 – Sept. 30, 2026
Stream trout – streams	Catch-and-release only	Jan. 1 – April 10, 2026
Stream trout – streams	5 combined total (only 1 over 16")	April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026
Stream trout – streams	Catch-and-release only	Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2026
Stream trout – streams	Closed to fishing	Oct. 16 – Dec. 31, 2026
Stream trout – streams	Catch-and-release only	Jan. 1 – April 9, 2027
Stream trout – streams	Catch-and-release only	Sept. 15, 2025 – April 10, 2026; Sept. 15, 2026 – April 9, 2027
Stream trout – streams	5 combined total (only 1 over 16")	April 11 – Sept. 14, 2026
Stream trout – lakes (summer)	5 combined total (not more than 3 over 16")	May 9 – Oct. 31, 2026
Stream trout – lakes (winter)	5 combined total (not more than 3 over 16")	2026 season: Jan. 17 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 16 – March 31
Stream trout – lakes (winter)	5 combined total (not more than 3 over 16")	2026 season: Jan. 1 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 1 – March 31
Stream trout – lakes (winter)	Winter season closed for stream trout	Winter season closed for stream trout

Trout and Lake Superior rules

Lakes

Trout lakes with pages

Ahsub Lakedesignated trout lake
Allen Lake, Crow Wing Countydesignated trout lake
Alruss Lakedesignated trout lake
Bad Medicine Lakestream trout lake
Bass Lake near Erhard, Otter Tail Countydesignated trout lake
Bath Lakedesignated trout lake
Bean Lake, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Bear Lake near Silver Bay, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Beaver Hut Lakedesignated trout lake
Bee Cee Lakedesignated trout lake
Beetle Lakedesignated trout lake
Bench Lakedesignated trout lake
Benjamin Lakedesignated trout lake
Benson Lake, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Big Watab Lakestream trout lake
Bingshick Lakedesignated trout lake
Birch Lake, Cook Countystream trout lake
Blacksmith Lakedesignated trout lake
Blue Lake, Aitkin Countystream trout lake
Blue Lake, Hubbard Countystream trout lake
Bogus Lakedesignated trout lake
Bone Lake, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Boys Lakedesignated trout lake
Briar Lakedesignated trout lake
Camp A Lakedesignated trout lake
Carrot Lakedesignated trout lake
Cedar Lake near Aurora, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Chant Lakedesignated trout lake
Chester Lakedesignated trout lake
Christmas Lakestream trout lake
Clearwater Lake, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Conchu Lakedesignated trout lake
Corona Lakedesignated trout lake
Courthouse Lakedesignated trout lake
Crappie Lakedesignated trout lake
Crosscut Lakedesignated trout lake
Cub Lake, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Dan Lakedesignated trout lake
Deepwater Lakedesignated trout lake
Diamond Lake, Cass Countydesignated trout lake
Divide Lakedesignated trout lake
Donna Lakestream trout lake
Dry Lakedesignated trout lake
East Lake, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Echo Lake, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Eikala Lakedesignated trout lake
Erskine Lake, Itasca Countydesignated trout lake
Esther Lakedesignated trout lake
Extortion Lakedesignated trout lake
Feather Lakedesignated trout lake
Finn Pondstream trout lake
Foster-Arend Lakestream trout lake
Found Lakedesignated trout lake
Gadwell Lakedesignated trout lake
Glacier Pond 1designated trout lake
Glacier Pond 2designated trout lake
Gogebic Lakedesignated trout lake
Goldeneye Lakedesignated trout lake
Grindstone Lakestream trout lake
Gypsy Lakedesignated trout lake
Hanging Horn Lakestream trout lake
Hanson Lake, Becker Countydesignated trout lake
Hanson Lake, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Hazel Lakedesignated trout lake
High Lakedesignated trout lake
Hogback Lake near Silver Bay, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Huntington Mine Lakedesignated trout lake
Island Lake, Clearwater Countydesignated trout lake
Jacob Lakedesignated trout lake
James Lakedesignated trout lake
Jouppi Lakedesignated trout lake
Judson Mine Pitdesignated trout lake
Junco Lakedesignated trout lake
Kimball Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Kinney Mine Pitstream trout lake
Kremer Lakedesignated trout lake
Larson Lake, Itasca Countydesignated trout lake
Leo Lakedesignated trout lake
Lima Lakedesignated trout lake
Little Andrus Lakedesignated trout lake
Little Dry Lakedesignated trout lake
Little Elbow Lake, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Little Long Lake, Hennepin Countystream trout lake
Little Mud Lake, Meeker Countystream trout lake
Lizz Lakedesignated trout lake
Loft Lakedesignated trout lake
Long Lake near Shevlin, Clearwater Countystream trout lake
Loon Lake, Aitkin Countydesignated trout lake
Lucky Lakedesignated trout lake
Mahnomen, Alstead & Arco Lakestream trout lake
Mallen Pitdesignated trout lake
Manuel Mine Lakedesignated trout lake
Margaret Lake near Emily, Cass Countydesignated trout lake
Margaret Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Marion Lake, Cass Countydesignated trout lake
Mavis Lakedesignated trout lake
Meditation Lakedesignated trout lake
Memegwesi Lakedesignated trout lake
Miner's Pitdesignated trout lake
Mink Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Missing Link Lakedesignated trout lake
Monker Lakestream trout lake
Moonshine Lake near Taconite, Itasca County, 26 acresdesignated trout lake
Moosehorn Lakedesignated trout lake
Muckwa Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Mulligan Lakedesignated trout lake
Musquash Lakedesignated trout lake
Neglige Lakedesignated trout lake
Newman Lakedesignated trout lake
Norberg Lakedesignated trout lake
North Shady Lakedesignated trout lake
Norway Lake, Lake Countydesignated trout lake
Olga Lakedesignated trout lake
Olson Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Pancore Lakedesignated trout lake
Paulson Lakedesignated trout lake
Pemmican Lakedesignated trout lake
Pennington Mine Pit Lakedesignated trout lake
Perch Lake, Cass Countydesignated trout lake
Pickerel Lake near Chisholm, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Pierz Lake, Cook Countystream trout lake
Pine Creekdesignated trout lake
Pine Mountain Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Pleasant Lake, Crow Wing Countydesignated trout lake
Portage Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Portsmouth Mine Lakedesignated trout lake
Quarry Lakestream trout lake
Ram Lakedesignated trout lake
Regenbogen Lakedesignated trout lake
Rog Lakedesignated trout lake
Sabin Lake (Embarrass Mine)designated trout lake
Sagamore Mine Lakedesignated trout lake
Sand Lake near Two Harbors, St. Louis Countydesignated trout lake
Scarp Lakedesignated trout lake
Section Eight Lakedesignated trout lake
Shoe Lakedesignated trout lake
Shoofly Lakedesignated trout lake
Skull Lakedesignated trout lake
Snoshoe Mine Lakedesignated trout lake
Sock Lakedesignated trout lake
Sonju Lakedesignated trout lake
Spring Hole Lakedesignated trout lake
St James Pitstream trout lake
Steamhaul Lakedesignated trout lake
Steer Lakedesignated trout lake
Strawberry Lake, Crow Wing Countydesignated trout lake
Surber Lakedesignated trout lake
Talus Lakedesignated trout lake
Taylor Lake near Hill City, Aitkin Countydesignated trout lake
Teepee Lakedesignated trout lake
Thompson Lake, Cook Countydesignated trout lake
Thrasher Lakedesignated trout lake
Thrush Lakedesignated trout lake
Tioga Mine Pitdesignated trout lake
Tofte Lakedesignated trout lake
Topper Lakedesignated trout lake
Trappers Lakedesignated trout lake
Trip Lakedesignated trout lake
Trout Lake, Cook Countystream trout lake
Trygg Lakedesignated trout lake
Turnip Lakedesignated trout lake
Vale Lakedesignated trout lake
Weasel Lakedesignated trout lake
Wee Lakedesignated trout lake
Wench Lakedesignated trout lake
Willard Lakedesignated trout lake

In photos

Minnesota waters, pictured

Lake of the Woods, Minnesota — Lake of the Woods
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0

Kabetogama Lake, Minnesota — Kabetogama Lake
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain

Baudette, Minnesota — Baudette
Photo: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0

Roseau County, Minnesota — Roseau County
Photo: Jimmy Dreger, CC BY-SA 3.0

Answers

Minnesota trout stream questions

How many trout streams does Minnesota have?

630 named streams carry the DNR trout designation here.

Where is the best trout stream water in Minnesota?

The southeast driftless counties and the North Shore of Lake Superior hold most of the designated miles.

Is the Minnesota trout and salmon stamp required on these streams?

Yes, the $10 trout and salmon stamp validation for anglers 18 to 64 on designated trout water.

When can I fish trout in southeast Minnesota?

Catch and release from Jan. 1, harvest from the April opener to Sept. 14, then catch and release to Oct. 15.

Are North Shore streams different?

Below posted boundaries they follow Lake Superior tributary rules for migratory trout and salmon.

Can I use live minnows on trout streams?

On most streams yes; some streams have bait restrictions in the special regulations.

What is a stream trout lake?

A lake stocked and managed for rainbow, brown or brook trout, with one line and no live minnows.

Are small streams listed?

Yes; streams without a page are listed on their county page.