Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Blue Earth County
14 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Blue Earth County; the 6 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.
Madison Lake leads at grade A−, with 6.3 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 28-inch fish the biggest measured. Loon Lake is next at A−, 14.7 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2022 survey, 7% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Crystal 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 | Madison Lake | A− | 1,447 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 34% | 28" | 3.7 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Loon Lake | A− | 809 | 14.7/net in gill nets | 7% | 26" | 1.1 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Crystal Lake | A− | 379 | 11/net in gill nets | 19% | 26" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Lura Lake | B+ | 1,359 | 3.9/net in gill nets | 66% | 27" | 3.5 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Ida Lake | C+ | 138 | — | 0% | 15" | 1.3 lb | 2017 |
| 6 | Ballantyne Lake | C | 371 | 2.7/net in gill nets | 6% | 20" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Blue Earth County: Northern pike · Largemouth 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.