Minnesota's largest lakes
With a combined surface area of more than 825,000 acres, Minnesota's 10 largest lakes account for about 40 percent of the annual statewide walleye harvest and make a significant contribution to the $2.4 billion spent each year on fishing in Minnesota. Each of these crown jewels of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes has a specialist assigned to it for annual monitoring and research.
Today's major threats to Lake Superior remain unchanged from 70 years ago – too much fishing, impacts from invasive species and habitat degradation. DNR works in the lake's Minnesota waters to minimize and, when possible, eliminate these threats so the North Shore remains a Minnesota crown jewel.
This statewide, collaborative effort monitors and records biological and chemical changes that occur in waters representative of the state's most common lakes. Data collected is being used to develop management approaches that can mitigate or minimize negative impacts caused by residential development and agriculture, aquatic plant removal, invasive species and climate change.
Most trout lakes are in northeast Minnesota, although there are some as far south as Rochester. Lakes contain either lake trout or stream trout. Anglers pursue trout for their beauty, fight, and taste – not to mention the fact that many trout lakes are amidst some of Minnesota's wildest, most scenic settings.