Best Yellow Perch Lakes in Minnesota
Top yellow perch lakes
3,078 Minnesota lakes have enough DNR survey data to earn a FishGrade score for yellow perch; 291 of them are at least 1,000 acres. The top 15 are ranked below by FishGrade's 0–100 score: abundance against the DNR normal range for similar lakes, plus size structure. Natures leads at 100. Across all 291 qualifying lakes the median score is 36.
See all 3,078 yellow perch lakes on the map| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natures | Itasca | 2,249 | Excellent · 100 | 42.5per gill net | - | 1990 |
| 2 | Big Rice | St. Louis | 1,917 | Excellent · 100 | 79.0per gill net | - | 1982 |
| 3 | Hendricks | Lincoln | 1,522 | Excellent · 99 | 106.0per gill net | 78% | 2025 |
| 4 | Big Stone | Big Stone | 11,984 | Excellent · 94 | 84.2per gill net | 48% | 2025 |
| 5 | North Fowl | Cook | 1,040 | Excellent · 91 | 27.0per gill net | 56% | 1998 |
| 6 | Vermilion River | St. Louis | 1,071 | Excellent · 87 | 10.7per gill net | 39% | 2018 |
| 7 | Kabetogama | St. Louis | 24,034 | Excellent · 85 | 8.8per gill net | 45% | 2025 |
| 8 | Traverse | Traverse | 10,849 | Excellent · 85 | 25.3per gill net | 56% | 2025 |
| 9 | Vermilion | St. Louis | 39,272 | Excellent · 84 | 15.7per gill net | 27% | 2025 |
| 10 | Cass | Beltrami | 15,958 | Excellent · 83 | 47.4per gill net | 35% | 2025 |
| 11 | Perent | Lake | 1,598 | Excellent · 81 | 9.2per gill net | 34% | 2019 |
| 12 | South Fowl | Cook | 1,586 | Excellent · 81 | 14.2per gill net | 65% | 1998 |
| 13 | Byllesby | Dakota | 1,368 | Excellent · 79 | 19.3per gill net | 62% | 2023 |
| 14 | Rainy | St. Louis | 210,200 | Excellent · 78 | 7.3per gill net | 33% | 2025 |
| 15 | Island Lake Reservoir | St. Louis | 8,001 | Excellent · 77 | 5.7per gill net | 45% | 2025 |
- 1. NaturesExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 2,249 acres
42.5 per gill net · surveyed 1990
- 2. Big RiceExcellent · 100
St. Louis County · 1,917 acres
79.0 per gill net · surveyed 1982
- 3. HendricksExcellent · 99
Lincoln County · 1,522 acres
106.0 per gill net · 78% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 4. Big StoneExcellent · 94
Big Stone County · 11,984 acres
84.2 per gill net · 48% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 5. North FowlExcellent · 91
Cook County · 1,040 acres
27.0 per gill net · 56% keeper-size · surveyed 1998
- 6. Vermilion RiverExcellent · 87
St. Louis County · 1,071 acres
10.7 per gill net · 39% keeper-size · surveyed 2018
- 7. KabetogamaExcellent · 85
St. Louis County · 24,034 acres
8.8 per gill net · 45% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 8. TraverseExcellent · 85
Traverse County · 10,849 acres
25.3 per gill net · 56% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 9. VermilionExcellent · 84
St. Louis County · 39,272 acres
15.7 per gill net · 27% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
47.4 per gill net · 35% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 11. PerentExcellent · 81
Lake County · 1,598 acres
9.2 per gill net · 34% keeper-size · surveyed 2019
- 12. South FowlExcellent · 81
Cook County · 1,586 acres
14.2 per gill net · 65% keeper-size · surveyed 1998
- 13. ByllesbyExcellent · 79
Dakota County · 1,368 acres
19.3 per gill net · 62% keeper-size · surveyed 2023
7.3 per gill net · 33% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 15. Island Lake ReservoirExcellent · 77
St. Louis County · 8,001 acres
5.7 per gill net · 45% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
Underrated yellow perch lakes under 1,000 acres
Smaller waters (100–999 acres) with standout survey numbers and lighter fishing pressure.
| # | Lake | County | Acres | Score | Catch rate | Keeper-size | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoal | Itasca | 676 | Excellent · 100 | 102.5per gill net | - | 1988 |
| 2 | Little Whitefish | Itasca | 160 | Excellent · 100 | 49.3per gill net | - | 1975 |
| 3 | Mallard | Clearwater | 105 | Excellent · 100 | 25.5per gill net | - | 1987 |
| 4 | Crooked | Itasca | 104 | Excellent · 100 | 30.5per gill net | - | 1979 |
| 5 | Pelkey | Morrison | 104 | Excellent · 100 | 41.5per gill net | - | 1991 |
| 6 | East Toqua | Big Stone | 437 | Excellent · 99 | 91.5per gill net | 57% | 2020 |
| 7 | Moenkedick | Otter Tail | 103 | Excellent · 99 | 20.5per gill net | - | 1992 |
| 8 | McKay | Lyon | 167 | Excellent · 96 | 15.0per gill net | 71% | 2025 |
| 9 | Rice | Otter Tail | 326 | Excellent · 95 | 14.0per gill net | - | 1988 |
| 10 | Hope | Meeker | 274 | Excellent · 95 | 89.3per gill net | 55% | 2004 |
102.5 per gill net · surveyed 1988
- 2. Little WhitefishExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 160 acres
49.3 per gill net · surveyed 1975
- 3. MallardExcellent · 100
Clearwater County · 105 acres
25.5 per gill net · surveyed 1987
- 4. CrookedExcellent · 100
Itasca County · 104 acres
30.5 per gill net · surveyed 1979
41.5 per gill net · surveyed 1991
- 6. East ToquaExcellent · 99
Big Stone County · 437 acres
91.5 per gill net · 57% keeper-size · surveyed 2020
- 7. MoenkedickExcellent · 99
Otter Tail County · 103 acres
20.5 per gill net · surveyed 1992
15.0 per gill net · 71% keeper-size · surveyed 2025
- 9. RiceExcellent · 95
Otter Tail County · 326 acres
14.0 per gill net · surveyed 1988
89.3 per gill net · 55% keeper-size · surveyed 2004
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best yellow perch lake in Minnesota?
Natures in Itasca County is the top-rated yellow perch lake in Minnesota on FishGrade, scoring 100 out of 100 based on Minnesota DNR survey data. The latest DNR survey measured 42.5 yellow perch per gill net. Among smaller waters, Shoal in Itasca County (676 acres) tops the under-1,000-acre list with a score of 100.
How are these rankings calculated?
Each lake's 0-100 FishGrade score blends two signals from Minnesota DNR surveys: abundance, which compares the lake's catch rate to the DNR normal range for similar lakes using the survey gear that best samples yellow perch, and size, the share of sampled fish reaching keeper size. To keep the list meaningful, the main rankings cover named lakes of at least 1,000 acres, and standout smaller lakes of 100+ acres are listed separately.
How current is this data?
Every ranking uses the most recent Minnesota DNR survey for each lake: survey dates for the ranked lakes run from 1982 to 2025, and 10 of 15 were surveyed within the last 7 years. The DNR resurveys most lakes on a 5-to-10-year cycle, and these rankings update as new surveys are published.
Which counties have the best yellow perch fishing?
St. Louis County and Cook County lead this list, holding 8 of the top 15 yellow perch lakes in Minnesota between them.