Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Blue Earth County
12 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Blue Earth 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.
Ida Lake leads at grade A, with 156 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2017 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Lura Lake is next at A−, 50.8 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 2% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Madison Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ida Lake | A | 138 | 156/net in gill nets | 26% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2017 |
| 2 | Lura Lake | A− | 1,359 | 50.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Madison Lake | A− | 1,447 | 14.2/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Loon Lake | B+ | 809 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 24% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | Mills Lake | B | 237 | 11.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2007 |
| 6 | Crystal Lake | B | 379 | 6.2/net in gill nets | 7% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Duck Lake | B− | 290 | 20.9/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Ballantyne Lake | C | 371 | 5.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Blue Earth County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.