Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Big Stone County
11 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Big Stone County; the 8 ranked here 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.
Big Stone Lake leads at grade A, with 7.8 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 28-inch fish the biggest measured. Lannon Lake is next at A, 60 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey, 5% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Artichoke Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 26-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Stone Lake | A | 11,984 | 7.8/net in gill nets | 35% | 28" | 2.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Lannon Lake | A | 197 | 60/net in gill nets | 5% | 27" | 0.7 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Artichoke Lake | A− | 1,971 | 48.8/net in gill nets | 1% | 26" | 0.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Marsh Lake | A− | 4,462 | 11.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 23" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | East Toqua Lake | C+ | 437 | — | 9% | 24" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Long Tom Lake | C+ | 147 | — | 0% | 6" | — | 2023 |
| 7 | Long Lake | C+ | 395 | — | 0% | 6" | — | 2023 |
| 8 | Swenson Lake | C− | 204 | 2.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 17" | 1.5 lb | 2013 |
Also ranked in Big Stone County: Northern pike · Crappie · 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.