What is the best trout lake in the Midwest?

Lake McConaughy in Nebraska is our first pick; Lake Sharpe and El Dorado Lake are close behind.

When is the best time to fish for trout?

Good range. Near the surface and along shorelines. Good range. Near the surface and along shorelines.

Best trout lakes in the Midwest: 11 lakes to fish

From stocked rainbows to deep-water lake trout, these lakes in the Midwest carry the cold water trout need. Here are 11 lakes where trout are on record, with where to start on each.

The lakes

Lake	State	Also holds
Lake McConaughy	Nebraska	walleye, striped bass, white bass
Lake Sharpe	South Dakota	walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, northern pike, white bass
El Dorado Lake	Kansas	catfish, walleye, white bass, crappie
Green Lake	Wisconsin	largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, wh
Burntside Lake	Minnesota	smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, yellow pe
Brookville Lake	Indiana	bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, ca
Torch Lake	Michigan	smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, blueg
Crystal Lake	Michigan	smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill
Mullett Lake	Michigan	walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, yellow perc
Calamus Reservoir	Nebraska	walleye, striped bass, white bass, northern pike, largemouth
Trout Lake	Wisconsin	walleye, northern pike, muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth

1. Lake McConaughy, Nebraska

Lake McConaughy covers 35,700 acres of water. It holds trout, walleye, striped bass and white bass. It goes down to about 142 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Lake McConaughy today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Sharpe, South Dakota

At some 56,900 acres, Lake Sharpe is a huge piece of water. You will find it right by Fort Pierre. Expect trout, walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 78 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Lake Sharpe is a Missouri River reservoir behind Big Bend Dam, with walleye as its primary gamefish.

Lake Sharpe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. El Dorado Lake, Kansas

At some 8,000 acres, El Dorado Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies within an easy drive of Wichita (about 30 miles). It holds trout, catfish, walleye and white bass. The deepest water is around 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. El Dorado Lake on the Walnut River is Kansas's largest state park lake and is stocked with rainbow trout in winter.

El Dorado Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Green Lake, Wisconsin

At some 7,350 acres, Green Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it next to Green Lake. It holds lake trout, trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 237 ft. At 237 feet deep, Green Lake is the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin.

Green Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Burntside Lake, Minnesota

Burntside Lake spreads over 7,140 acres of water. The lake is near Ely. It holds lake trout, smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike. At about 126 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Burntside Lake near Ely contains more than 100 islands.

Burntside Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Brookville Lake, Indiana

At 5,250 acres of water, Brookville Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 22 miles east of Hamilton. Trout, bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Brookville Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Torch Lake, Michigan

Torch Lake spreads over 18,800 acres of water. It lies about 1.8 miles south of Rapid City. It holds lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and walleye. It goes down to about 285 ft. Torch Lake is Michigan's deepest inland lake and is famous for its turquoise, Caribbean-like clear water. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Torch Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Crystal Lake, Michigan

Crystal Lake is a natural lake of some 9,850 acres. It lies right by Beulah. Lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and northern pike are the draw. The deepest water is around 165 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Crystal Lake in Benzie County is Michigan's ninth-largest inland lake and is noted for its deep, clear water and steep drop-offs near shore. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Crystal Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Mullett Lake, Michigan

Mullett Lake is a natural lake of 17,400 acres. You will find it about 1.1 miles southwest of Indian River. It holds trout, lake trout, walleye and smallmouth bass. At about 148 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has four steep ledges: good places to start. Mullett Lake is part of Michigan's Inland Waterway and drains to Lake Huron via the Cheboygan River; a remnant native lake sturgeon population still lives there.

Mullett Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Calamus Reservoir, Nebraska

Calamus Reservoir spreads over some 5,140 acres. The lake is about 5.3 miles southeast of Burwell. It is the Calamus River behind Virginia Smith Dam. Expect trout, walleye, striped bass and white bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Calamus Reservoir is impounded by the Virginia Smith Dam on the Calamus River in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Calamus Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Trout Lake, Wisconsin

Trout Lake spreads over some 3,970 acres. You will find it near Lac du Flambeau. Lake trout, walleye, northern pike and muskie are the draw. The deepest water is around 117 ft. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Trout Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Trout through the year in the Midwest

The water temperature on the day matters more than the calendar: each lake page on LakeScope shows today's surface temperature and how the fish should react to it.

Spring: Good range. Near the surface and along shorelines.
Summer: Too warm up top. Fish deep and cool, or near cold inflows.
Fall: Good range. Near the surface and along shorelines.
Winter: Cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.