Best Fishing Lakes in Pope County

20 lakes · Minnesota DNR survey data

Lakes by fishing quality

Ranked by the strongest game-fish, panfish, and trout scores from the latest DNR surveys. Lakes without a score yet are listed last.

Emily

2,316 acres

Excellent · 100

Channel Catfish · Largemouth Bass · Northern Pike

Reno

3,809 acres

Excellent · 99

Walleye · Hybrid Sunfish · Northern Pike

Strandness

92 acres

Excellent · 99

Walleye · Yellow Perch · Northern Pike

Goose

324 acres

Excellent · 97

Largemouth Bass · Green Sunfish · Bluegill

Minnewaska

8,050 acres

Excellent · 94

Largemouth Bass · Hybrid Sunfish · Bluegill

Signalness

42 acres

Excellent · 93

Walleye · Northern Pike · Black Crappie

Pelican

518 acres

Excellent · 92

Largemouth Bass · Walleye · Northern Pike

Scandinavian

417 acres

Excellent · 90

Walleye · Largemouth Bass · Northern Pike

Johanna

1,399 acres

Excellent · 88

Northern Pike · Largemouth Bass · Walleye

Amelia

934 acres

Excellent · 87

Hybrid Sunfish · Walleye · Rock Bass

Gilchrist

336 acres

Excellent · 87

Walleye · Northern Pike · Black Crappie

Villard

544 acres

Excellent · 85

Walleye · Largemouth Bass · Black Crappie

Leven

282 acres

Excellent · 84

Largemouth Bass · Black Crappie · Walleye

Linka

178 acres

Excellent · 82

Northern Pike · Largemouth Bass · Walleye

Westport

203 acres

Excellent · 79

Northern Pike · Black Crappie · Yellow Perch

Grove

345 acres

Excellent · 78

Black Crappie · Walleye · Bluegill

Ann

370 acres

Good · 74

Yellow Perch · Walleye · Northern Pike

8 acres

Walleye

293 acres

Largemouth Bass · Walleye · Northern Pike

Malmedal

199 acres

Good · 63

Walleye · Yellow Perch · Northern Pike

Chasing one fish instead? Browse Minnesota's best lakes by species