Minnesota Trout Stocking Report 2026

Every sentence here comes from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Minnesota DNR), and each section names its sources. Updated .

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) stocks trout in designated trout lakes, in trout streams and in Lake Superior tributaries. Designated stream trout lakes are named in state rule and stocked with rainbow, brown or brook trout, and some with splake. Lakes are stocked ahead of their seasons: in mid-to-late October once the water cools, before the January winter opener, and at Courthouse Lake also for the May opener. Stream trout harvest opens on the second Saturday in April, April 11 in 2026.

From Minnesota DNR: 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (PDF), Minnesota DNR: Trout fishing in southwestern Minnesota, Minnesota DNR: Trout fishing on the North Shore, Minnesota DNR: Trout fishing in Minnesota and Minnesota DNR: West Metro trout lakes.

The Minnesota DNR trout stocking report

Minnesota's designated trout streams and lakes on a map, each lake linking to its own page with its stocking, maps, fish consumption advice and water quality.

Open the trout lake list
  • LakeFinder: DNR's lake-by-lake pages, every lake's stocking among them, for trout lakes and every other lake.

From Minnesota DNR: Trout fishing resources.

When Minnesota stocks trout

Trout lakes, before each opener

West Metro trout lakes are stocked to a plan: yearling rainbows in mid-to-late October, once the water cools, more in time for the winter season, and at Courthouse Lake in Carver County also for the open-water opener in May. For the January 17, 2026 winter opener, Holland Lake in Eagan got 2,000 yearling rainbows and 100 adult browns, Cenaiko Lake in Coon Rapids 3,000 yearlings and 100 adult browns, and Hiniker Pond near Mankato its rainbows from the Lanesboro hatchery.

From Minnesota DNR: West Metro trout lakes, Minnesota DNR: East Metro area fisheries and Minnesota DNR: DNR stocks rainbow trout in Mankato's Hiniker Pond for winter angling (January 15, 2026).

Rules on stocked water

  • Residents 16 through 89 need a fishing license: $25 a year, $12 for 24 hours or $14 for 72, and $5 at 16 or 17. Nonresidents 16 and older pay $51 a year, $14 for 24 hours, $36 for 72 or $43 for seven days. The license year runs from March 1 to the end of February.
  • A $10 trout/salmon stamp is needed, with a license, to fish designated trout streams and lakes or Lake Superior, or to keep trout anywhere. Anglers under 18, 65 and older, or on a 24- or 72-hour license do not need it.
  • On most streams the 2026 season is April 11 to September 30, with 5 trout combined and only 1 over 16 inches. In southeast Minnesota streams are catch-and-release from January 1 to April 10, open to harvest April 11 to September 14, catch-and-release again to October 15, then closed for the rest of the year.
  • Stream trout lakes open for summer May 9 to October 31, 2026, and in winter from January 17 to March 31 outside the Boundary Waters, with 5 trout combined, no more than 3 over 16 inches. Live minnows are banned on them, only one line is allowed, and no one may fish designated trout water at all outside its season.

From Minnesota DNR: 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (PDF).

How to hear about a stocking

  • Each lake's stocking is on its LakeFinder page, and DNR's area offices and news releases announce the stockings for the winter opener.

From Minnesota DNR: Trout fishing resources and Minnesota DNR: East Metro area fisheries.

Worth knowing before you go looking

  • The winter trout season in lakes is under review. In October 2026 DNR asked for comments, which it takes through January 31, 2027, and says any change would come no earlier than March 2028.
  • Winter trout in lakes is mostly a northern fishery: DNR's Southern Region has two winter trout waters, Hiniker Pond and Little Mud Lake in Meeker County. And on the North Shore most streams hold wild brook trout; DNR stocks brook trout in heavily fished creeks near Duluth, and browns in streams too warm for brookies.

From Minnesota DNR: Minnesota DNR seeks input on winter trout season in lakes (October 15, 2026), Minnesota DNR: DNR stocks rainbow trout in Mankato's Hiniker Pond for winter angling (January 15, 2026) and Minnesota DNR: Trout fishing on the North Shore.

Which day to fish it

The schedule says where the fish went in. Which day to go is a different question: the forecast scores each day of the week for trout at the water you pick, from its water temperature, the wind and the weather.

See the week for rainbow trout

Species guides: Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Lake Trout · Steelhead

Sources

Every sentence above was read on one of these pages, and a check re-reads each quoted line against the page it came from.

Spotted something out of date or plain wrong here? Tell us and we will check it.