Lake Sturgeon Lakes in Minnesota
24 lakes where Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys have recorded lake sturgeon.
A species appears here when it turned up in a DNR survey net or electrofishing run, which tells you the fish is present — not how many there are. The counties with the most lake sturgeon lakes are Otter Tail (8), St. Louis (5), Becker (4).
New to the species? Read How to Catch Lake Sturgeon in Minnesota: Rainy River, St. Croix, Seasons & Tags.
1.St. Louis River Estuary
82 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Duluth10,255 acres
Stocking on record
2.Lake St. Croix
83 out of 100 Lake ScoreWashington · Stillwater8,393 acres
Stocking on record
3.Lake Pepin
76 out of 100 Lake ScoreGoodhue · Lake City12,299 acres
4.Lake of the Woods
84 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake of the Woods · Long Point725,583 acres
Special regulations
5.Cross Lake
54 out of 100 Lake ScorePine · Pine City925 acres
Special regulations
6.Lake Kabetogama
74 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ray24,034 acres
Special regulations
7.Pokegama Lake
58 out of 100 Lake ScorePine · Pine City1,521 acres
Special regulations
8.Namakan Lake
71 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ray24,066 acres
Special regulations
9.Detroit Lake
85 out of 100 Lake ScoreBecker · Detroit Lakes3,067 acres
Stocking on record
10.Otter Tail Lake
74 out of 100 Lake ScoreOtter Tail · Ottertail14,079 acres
Stocking on record
11.Big Stone Lake
77 out of 100 Lake ScoreBig Stone · Ortonville11,984 acres
Stocking on record
12.Upper Red Lake
76 out of 100 Lake ScoreBeltrami · Waskish119,294 acres
Special regulations
All 24 lakes
Sorted by rank. Tap a lake for access, fish species and directions.
| Lake | County | Regs | Acres | Max depth | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis River Estuarynear Duluth | St. Louis | Statewide | 10,255 | 55 ft | 82 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Lake St. Croixnear Stillwater | Washington | Statewide | 8,393 | 78 ft | 83 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Lake Pepinnear Lake City | Goodhue | Statewide | 12,299 | 60 ft | 76 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Lake of the Woodsnear Long Point | Lake of the Woods | Special | 725,583 | 210 ft | 84 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Cross Lakenear Pine City | Pine | Special | 925 | 30 ft | 54 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Lake Kabetogamanear Ray | St. Louis | Special | 24,034 | 80 ft | 74 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Pokegama Lakenear Pine City | Pine | Special | 1,521 | 25 ft | 58 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Namakan Lakenear Ray | St. Louis | Special | 24,066 | 150 ft | 71 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Detroit Lakenear Detroit Lakes | Becker | Statewide | 3,067 | 89 ft | 85 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Otter Tail Lakenear Ottertail | Otter Tail | Statewide | 14,079 | 120 ft | 74 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Big Stone Lakenear Ortonville | Big Stone | Statewide | 11,984 | 16 ft | 77 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Upper Red Lakenear Waskish | Beltrami | Special | 119,294 | 15 ft | 76 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Crane Lakenear Crane Lake | St. Louis | Special | 2,921 | 80 ft | 68 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Sand Point Lakenear Crane Lake | St. Louis | Special | 8,527 | 184 ft | 66 out of 100 Lake Score |
| White Earth Lakenear White Earth | Becker | Statewide | 1,989 | 120 ft | 68 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Many Point Lakenear Ponsford | Becker | Statewide | 1,701 | 92 ft | 81 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Little Pine Lakenear Perham | Otter Tail | Special | 2,080 | 63 ft | 71 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Rush Lakenear Ottertail | Otter Tail | Statewide | 5,276 | 68 ft | 61 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Round Lakenear Ponsford | Becker | Statewide | 1,094 | 69 ft | 72 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Big Pine Lakenear Perham | Otter Tail | Special | 4,728 | 76 ft | 59 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Hoot Lakenear Fergus Falls | Otter Tail | Statewide | 161 | 20 ft | 63 out of 100 Lake Score |
| East Lost Lakenear Battle Lake | Otter Tail | Special | 483 | 36 ft | 58 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Deer Lakenear Battle Lake | Otter Tail | Special | 447 | 26 ft | 56 out of 100 Lake Score |
| Wright Lakenear Fergus Falls | Otter Tail | Statewide | 67 | 32 ft | 61 out of 100 Lake Score |
Other species
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I catch lake sturgeon in Minnesota?
DNR surveys have recorded lake sturgeon in 24 of the lakes in this directory. The top-ranked are St. Louis River Estuary (St. Louis County), Lake St. Croix (Washington County), Lake Pepin (Goodhue County).
Are there special regulations for lake sturgeon?
Statewide seasons and limits apply unless a lake has its own rule. 12 of the lakes listed here carry special regulations of some kind; each lake page shows the text. Always confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.