Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Becker County
74 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Becker County; 52 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.
White Earth Lake leads at grade A, with 32.1 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Detroit Lake is next at A, 8.2 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 31% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Big Cormorant Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 27-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Earth Lake | A | 1,989 | 32.1/net in gill nets | 4% | 27" | 1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Detroit Lake | A | 3,067 | 8.2/net in gill nets | 31% | 29" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Big Cormorant Lake | A | 3,657 | 15.1/net in gill nets | 19% | 27" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Strawberry Lake | A | 1,498 | 12.1/net in gill nets | 21% | 28" | 2.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Island Lake | A | 1,180 | 17.1/net in gill nets | 19% | 27" | 1.5 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Toad Lake | A | 1,715 | 10.3/net in gill nets | 32% | 27" | 2.2 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Many Point Lake | A | 1,701 | 8.9/net in gill nets | 17% | 28" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Sallie Lake | A− | 1,280 | 8.6/net in gill nets | 41% | 27" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Melissa Lake | A− | 1,850 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 44% | 27" | 2.6 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Boyer Lake | A− | 438 | 9.6/net in gill nets | 35% | 29" | 1.9 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Becker County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye 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.