Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Aitkin County
100 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Aitkin County; 32 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Fleming Lake leads at grade A, with 100.7 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2017 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Rock Lake is next at A, 46 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 12% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Big Sandy Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fleming Lake | A | 319 | 100.7/net in gill nets | 14% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Rock Lake | A | 342 | 46/net in gill nets | 12% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Sandy Lake | A− | 6,125 | 5.8/net in gill nets | 32% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Aitkin Lake | A− | 659 | 16.5/net in gill nets | 12% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Round Lake | B+ | 634 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 16% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Minnewawa Lake | B+ | 2,351 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Rat Lake | B+ | 431 | 8.5/net in gill nets | 4% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Pine Lake | B+ | 378 | 27.9/net in gill nets | 0% | 12" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Clear Lake | B+ | 574 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 43% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Moulton Lake | B | 258 | 8.4/net in gill nets | 10% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Aitkin County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.