FishKillFlea Minnesota truly earns its "Land of 10,000 Lakes" nickname — with 11,842 lakes of 10+ acres, 6,564 natural rivers, and the legendary Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota offers some of the finest freshwater fishing in North America.
Top Walleye Lakes
Minnesota is the Walleye Capital — and these lakes produce the best walleye fishing in the state:
| Lake | Region | Acreage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mille Lacs Lake | Central MN | 132,516 | Top walleye lake in North America; slot limits apply |
| Lake of the Woods | NW MN (border) | 950,400+ | "Walleye Capital of the World" — summer & ice fishing |
| Leech Lake | North-Central | 111,527 | 3rd largest in MN; walleye, musky, perch |
| Lake Vermilion | NE MN | 39,294 | Trophy walleye + pristine scenery |
| Red Lake | NW MN | 288,800 | Remote, massive — excellent walleye numbers |
Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)
The BWCA is one million acres of pristine wilderness with over 1,000 lakes and 1,500 miles of canoe routes. Species include smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and lake trout. A BWCA entry permit is required in addition to your fishing license.
Minneapolis / St. Paul Metro Fishing
- Lake Minnetonka: 14,000+ acres of bass, crappie, and musky right in the Twin Cities suburbs
- Chain of Lakes (Minneapolis): Urban fishing at Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun
- Mississippi River (Metro): Excellent channel catfish, sauger, and smallmouth bass
- St. Croix River: Scenic border river with smallmouth bass and walleye
Lake Superior & North Shore
- North Shore Streams: Steelhead runs (spring), Kamloops rainbow trout (fall). Includes Knife River, Baptism River, Brule River.
- Lake Superior open water: Lake trout, Chinook salmon, coho salmon. Charter boats from Duluth and Two Harbors.
Seasonal Fishing Guide for Minnesota
| Season | Best Fishing | Top Spots |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (May opener) | Walleye opener (mid-May), crappie spawn | Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, Vermilion |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Bass, musky, panfish, BWCA trips | Minnetonka, BWCA, Lake of the Woods |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Musky trophy time, fall walleye, steelhead | Leech Lake, North Shore streams |
| Winter (Dec–Mar) | Ice fishing: walleye, crappie, perch, pike | Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Red Lake |