There are a lot of them. Minnesota’s roadside attraction list is ever-growing, and to no one’s surprise, the number of fish statues is especially high. Just when I think I’ve gotten them all, a new one comes along. The following list is every fish statue in Minnesota that I am aware of. Until the next one, of course. Enjoy!
We’ll start off with a classic – Lou T. Fisk, the world’s largest lutefisk in Madison, MN.
In Nevis, MN is the World’s Largest Tiger Muskie.
Down in Rockville, MN on the roof of a gas station is a large bass.
In Bena, MN is the Big Fish – the Highway Highlights mascot!
And just down the road is an oversized northern pike in Deer River, MN.
Alexandria, MN has a big fish on top of a sign for a bait shop…
Which looks similar to this one in the southern MN town of Clarks Grove…
And the one in Otter Tail, MN…
As well as that big one in Garrison on Mille Lacs..
As well as the one down the road in Isle, MN…
And just down the road from Isle is the Big Mean Muskie on the shores of Mille Lacs.
Morey’s Fish Company in Motley, MN features a big fish on top of their sign…
As does the Morey’s Brainerd location.
New Prague, MN features a big sunfish on top of a sign for a restaurant..
Rush City’s walleye claims to be Paul Bunyan’s walleye.
And the Leaping Walleye in Lake Kabetogama features a saddle for visitors to hop on for a quick photo op.
And then there’s the colorful Giant Blue Gill in Orr, MN on Pelican Lake.
Down in Preston, MN is a trout on display which doubles as a parade float.
Up in Erskine, we find a concrete northern pike in Erskine, MN on the shores of Lake Cameron.
A more recent find is this walleye biting on a lure in Bemidji, MN…
As well as this big fish atop a sign in Bemidji.
In the North Shore town of Grand Marais, we have a big fish crashing through the Beaver House bait shop.
And in Floodwood, there is a woodcarved catfish.
The tiny town of Hope, MN features a tree that was carved into a big fish.
And in Detroit Lakes, MN there are dozens of these sunfish around town, each painted differently as part of a community art project.
In the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center, there is a Frank Gehry-designed “Standing Glass Fish.”
And of course, “Willie the Walleye” in Baudette, MN.
This concludes the tour of Minnesota’s numerous, oversized fish. While to some, these are just tacky roadside attractions, but to others, these are works of art, all in varying degrees and design. Fish are a staple in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, inside the water and out.
Editor’s note: I will update this list with each new fish statue I discover. And let me know if I’ve missed any! But as far as I know, this list is comprehensive. Until next time!