Located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota, Lake Minnetonka is the largest lake in the area, spanning more than 14,000 acres. Lake Minnetonka comprises about 30 different bays that are interconnected by many channels. Because there are so many different smaller bodies of water that make up the lake, there are many different water conditions, bottom types, and depths throughout the lake. The average depth of Lake Minnetonka is around 30 feet, but the deepest point is 113 feet in Crystal Bay. While there are many streams that feed into Lake Minnetonka, there is only one outlet to the lake called Minnehaha Creek.
Lake Minnetonka is visited by many people for its parks, trails, and excellent boating and fishing opportunities. In fact, Lake Minnetonka contains about 20 species of native fish, with many of these species having incredibly large populations that are great for fishing. Below are the types of fish species that can be found throughout Lake Minnetonka.
Fish Species in Lake Minnetonka
1) Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
Black bullheads are a type of catfish that can be found in Lake Minnetonka where the water is still and the bottom is silty, although they are incredibly tolerant to many different water conditions including high turbidity and low oxygen. These fish have black or dark olive bodies and a cream-colored belly. Black bullheads can be distinguished from other species of bullheads by a light-colored band that runs along the base of the tail.
This species grows to about 8 – 14 inches in length and weighs 1 – 2 pounds. Equipped with eight black barbels on their face, black bullheads navigate the waters to find anything they can eat including small crayfish, worms, small mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. The willingness of black bullheads to eat anything they can find makes them an easy catch for anglers.
2) Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
Brown bullheads can be found in Lake Minnetonka where water is slow moving and contains vegetation. Brown bullheads are a type of catfish that have dark brown, scaleless skin. The head of the brown bullhead is a solid color, but the trunk has dark mottling.
Brown bullheads average around 8 – 14 inches long and weigh 1 – 3 pounds. This species also has eight barbels on its head that sense touch and chemical stimuli. They use these barbels along with their terminal mouths and tiny teeth to feed on insects, small fish, fish eggs, mollusks, plants, leeches, worms, and crayfish on the bottom of the river.
3) Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
Yellow bullheads are another type of catfish species that are slightly less common in Lake Minnetonka, but they can be found in shallow areas of the lake. This species is generally a yellow-green color with a light yellow belly, and they can sometimes have brown mottling across the sides. These fish grow to be around 7 – 12 inches long and will generally weigh less than two pounds.
Unlike the black and brown bullheads, yellow bullheads have light yellow or white barbels on their faces; however, all three species still use these barbels for hunting and navigating. At night, yellow bullheads will search the water for minnows, crayfish, insects, larvae, aquatic invertebrates, and plants to eat. In Minnesota, the possession limit for all bullheads combined is 100 fish.
4) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Black crappies are extremely abundant in Lake Minnetonka because they like the lake’s clear and still waters and plenty of areas with submerged coverings. These fish have compressed bodies and are generally a darker green on the back with dark mottling on the silvery sides. They also have 7 – 8 spines on their dorsal fins, which distinguishes them from white crappies, who have 5 – 6 spines.
This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, so the males tend to be larger and darker than the females. A 2016 study of Lake Minnetonka found that black crappies in this body of water averaged 8.6 inches in length and 0.17 pounds. This species is usually nocturnal, so they will hunt during the night for small fishes, crustaceans, and insects.
5) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
White crappies are slightly less common than black crappies in Lake Minnetonka because they do well in moving, turbid waters, which can be found in a few areas throughout the lake. White crappies have compressed bodies that are silvery olive on the back and silvery white on the belly. These fish have dark vertical bands along the sides of their bodies, and their gill covers have spines.
During breeding season, males will look slightly different than females due to the males developing a dark throat. White crappies average about 9 – 10 inches long and are around 2 pounds as adults. These fish generally eat smaller fishes like minnows or shad, but they will also eat insects like mayflies. The total combined possession limit for all crappies in Lake Minnetonka is 10 fish.
6) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills are a widespread fish in Minnesota, and they can be found in Lake Minnetonka where the water is warm and has lots of vegetation. These fish are characterized by having disk-shaped bodies with an olive green back, an orangish-yellow belly, and a black dot at the base of the dorsal fin. Bluegills get their name from the bluish hue surrounding the gill covers.
A survey completed in Lake Minnetonka found that bluegills averaged 5.9 inches long and weighed an average of 0.17 pounds. These fish have very little mouths, so they will only eat smaller prey such as zooplankton, insects, worms, and snails. Bluegills are a main source of food for many larger fish such as largemouth bass, so they have adapted to be maneuverable. For instance, this species can make very quick stops by spreading out their pectoral fins.
7) Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus)
Pumpkinseed sunfish are a little less abundant than bluegills, but they are still a popular fish that can be found in Lake Minnetonka where the water is clear, warmer, and has lots of vegetation to hide in. This species has a disc-shaped body that is speckled with olive green, blue, orange, and yellow, and they have orange and blue waves running across their faces.
These fish grow to be about 5 – 8 inches long and weigh around 8 – 12 ounces. These fish are active during the day and will feed on insects, larvae, mollusks, snails, crustaceans, leeches, small fish, and detritus. At night, pumpkinseeds will rest near the bottom of the lake or in vegetation, so they will not be spotted by predators.
8) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
Green sunfish thrive in creek environments, but they can still be found in Lake Minnetonka since they are adaptable to many different water conditions. This species has a wider body compared to other sunfish, and these bodies are blue-green in color with black dots and white bellies. They also have darker vertical bands across their bodies and a dark spot on their dorsal fin. Another distinguishing characteristic of the green sunfish is that their mouths are much larger than other sunfish.
Green sunfish are not a desirable sport fish because they are relatively small, ranging from about 3 – 7 inches long and weighing less than a pound. These fish are very aggressive and will outcompete other fish species for food such as crayfish, fish eggs, insects, and smaller fishes. In Minnesota, the possession limit for all sunfish species combined is 30 fish.
9) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
Walleye are now commonly found in Lake Minnetonka, and they prefer calm, cool, sandy-bottom waters. This species has a brownish-green body that fades to a cream belly complete with dark horizontal lines, and they average about 11 pounds. Walleye get their name from their big, glassy pupils, and these eyes look like this due to a reflective layer on the inner eye called the tapetum lucidum, which helps walleyes see prey in times of low visibility. This layer makes walleyes sensitive to bright light, however, so they often hunt for their prey, like fishes and mudpuppies, at dusk or night.
In Lake Minnetonka, walleye populations were diminishing, so efforts have been made by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Westonka Walleye Program to continuously stock walleye in the lake, which has drastically improved walleye numbers. Currently, the possession limit is six walleye in Lake Minnetonka, and only one walleye in possession can be over 20 inches long.
10) Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Muskellunge, more commonly known as muskies, can be found in Lake Minnetonka in areas where the water is very clear and slow-moving. These fish come in three subspecies that have slightly different patterning and native ranges, but they all have darker green or brownish backs that fade to light green sides and a whitish belly. Muskies are the largest of the pike family, and they can reach about 30 – 40 inches long and 10 – 20 pounds on average, although they can reach up to 70 pounds in certain waters.
These fish have jaws lined with long, sharp teeth, and the roof of their mouths are covered in smaller curved teeth. They also have excellent vision both during the day and at night. With these factors combined, muskies make for top predators that eat a number of larger fish species. Like walleye, muskies have also declined in number in Lake Minnetonka, so the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has established a stocking program for muskies that will occur every other year.
11) Tiger muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x Esox lucius)
Tiger muskies are a sterile hybrid between a true muskellunge and a northern pike. These fish are commonly stocked in northern waters, including in Lake Minnetonka, and they do well in shallower waters with lots of vegetation. Tiger muskies have long, cylindrical bodies that are lighter in color, and they have dark vertical bars running across their bodies as well as some dark spots. Tiger muskies also have more pointed caudal fins like pike.
Adult tiger muskies average around 34 – 48 inches long and weigh up to over 30 pounds. Like true muskies, tiger muskies are ambush predators, and they will lie and wait in vegetation for unsuspecting fish to cross their paths for a good meal. In Lake Minnetonka, anglers are only allowed to possess one true or tiger muskie at a time, and this muskie must be a minimum of 40 inches in length.
12) Northern pike (Esox lucius)
Northern pike dominate Lake Minnetonka because they are able to tolerate many conditions of water that can be found throughout all of the different bays that make up the lake. This species is characterized by torpedo-shaped bodies that are dark green or brown and covered in gold spots. They also have pointed mouths that contain many sharp teeth.
Northern pike grow to be about 18 – 25 inches long and weigh around 2 – 5 pounds, although a survey done in Lake Minnetonka found that northern pike averaged around 27.8 inches long by the age of six. Due to the structure of their body, northern pike prove to be vicious predators and will lunge to eat other fish, frogs, crayfish, small mammals, and ducklings. The possession limit for northern pike at Lake Minnetonka is 10 fish, and no more than two fish can be over 26 inches.
13) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth bass are very abundant in Lake Minnetonka, since they prefer to live in slow-moving, shallower waters covered by vegetation. Largemouth bass have thick olive-green bodies with dark mottling along the back and speckles along the sides. This species has an average length of 13 inches and will generally weigh less than 5 pounds, although they can get much larger. Largemouth bass get their name from their mouth, which extends past the eye.
Largemouths are carnivores that primarily feed on crayfish and other fishes, but they will eat less or stop eating altogether in the colder months when their metabolism slows down. There are several bass tournaments held each year at Lake Minnetonka, and these tournaments help assess the conditions of the populations of bass at the lake.
14) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Smallmouth bass are found in similar regions of Lake Minnetonka as the largemouth bass. Smallmouths are an olive-green color with vertical bands on the side of the body, and they range from 12 – 18 inches in length and weigh around 1 – 4 pounds.
While smallmouths look very similar to largemouth bass, the major distinction between the two is that smallmouth bass have a smaller mouth that extends to the midpoint of the eye. Despite the difference in mouth sizes, smallmouths eat a diet similar to largemouth bass. At Lake Minnetonka, the possession limit for smallmouth and largemouth bass combined is six fish, except during mid-May when there is a catch-and-release policy in place.
15) Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Rock bass can be found in clear, rocky, or sandy areas of Lake Minnetonka that have plenty of vegetation to hide in. This species has an ombre body going from a dark green back and lightening all the way to a whitish green or yellow belly. These fish also have unique dark spots on each body scale, and they have bright red eyes.
Rock bass are generally a bit smaller than other bass as they only get around 6 – 10 inches long and will hardly ever weigh over a pound. This species has a very large mouth, which they use to feed on vegetation, crustaceans, insects, and small fish; however, males will stop eating altogether during spawning season while they guard their nest of eggs. In Minnesota, the possession limit for rock bass is 30 fish.
16) Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
Yellow perch are extremely abundant in Lake Minnetonka because they prefer clear, cool waters. This species is known for its golden yellow to greenish body covered in 6 – 8 dark vertical bars. These fish have yellow or green eyes and orangey-red tinted fins. Yellow perch generally grow to be about 7 – 10 inches long and weigh around a pound, although this species is prone to having stunted growth in areas where food is limited. When food is abundant, adults will feed on the bottom of the lake with their subterminal mouth, and they will search for items such as benthic macroinvertebrates as well as smaller fishes.
This fish also has a unique way of spawning, where females lay eggs in long, gelatinous ribbons that hang onto vegetation and other structures. The daily possession limit for perch throughout Minnesota is 20 fish.
17) Common shiner (Luxilus cornutus)
The common shiner is a minnow that does well in streams and rivers, but they can also be found in the clear waters of Lake Minnetonka. These fish have small bodies with olive backs and silver sides containing darker crescent-shaped spots. They will often average around 3 – 5 inches long but can sometimes reach up to seven inches in length.
Common shiners have small terminal mouths that they use to feed primarily on insects, but they will also eat plant material and small crustaceans. These fish are important to Lake Minnetonka because they are an important food source for many game fishes including largemouth and smallmouth bass.
18) Bowfin (Amia calva)
Bowfin can be found in Lake Minnetonka where waters are very clear and there is lots of vegetation; however, they are able to breathe air, so they can survive in areas that are subject to desiccation if they bury in the mud. These fish have long, slim bodies with an elongated dorsal fin and a round tail. Their bodies are olive or brown with dark mottling, and their bellies are cream or white in color.
Bowfin also have no scales on their heads. Instead, their heads are covered in bony plates. These fish grow to about two feet long and generally weigh less than 20 pounds. Bowfin have powerful jaws and many sharp teeth, so they are easily able to ambush many types of prey including fishes, frogs, small snakes, and birds.
19) White sucker (Catostomus commersonii)
White suckers are extremely tolerant of many water conditions including high turbidity and polluted waters, and they can be found in many areas of Lake Minnetonka. These fish are characterized by long slender bodies that are olive-brown on the back, silver on the sides, and white on the belly.
During breeding season, males develop gold coloration on their backs and red stripes across their sides. As adults, white suckers reach about 10 – 16 inches long and will weigh less than two pounds. White suckers also have toothless terminal mouths with thick lips, which they use to suck zooplankton, larvae, fish eggs, and benthic invertebrates off of the lake floor.
20) Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Common carp, also known as European carp, are found in abundance in the southwestern region of Lake Minnetonka, and they prefer areas where water is warm and still or very slow moving. This species has a robust body with a brassy green back and white to yellow sides. They have large scales with a black dot on each and two pairs of barbels on their upper jaw.
These fish have rows of pharyngeal teeth that they use to dig up aquatic plant roots to eat in addition to catching insects, crustaceans, and small mollusks. This feeding behavior from the non-native species causes high turbidity and poor water conditions that are negatively affecting native fish in Lake Minnetonka. Currently, there is a 10-year plan set in place to help reduce the large population of common carp in certain areas of Lake Minnetonka.
