Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Carlton County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 33 lakes in Carlton County. Of those, 12 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Eagle Lake is first at B+. The DNR caught 10.4 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 11 inches. Park Lake is second at B, with 5.1 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 14% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Moosehead Lake is third at B, and its biggest yellow perch was 9 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Lake | B+ | 389 | 10.4/net in gill nets | 2% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Park Lake | B | 381 | 5.1/net in gill nets | 14% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Moosehead Lake | B | 279 | 8.2/net in gill nets | 3% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Big Lake | B | 526 | 5.1/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2020 |
| 5 | Sand Lake | B | 128 | 9.5/net in gill nets | 1% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2016 |
| 6 | Hay Lake | B− | 140 | 28.5/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Cross Lake | C+ | 107 | — | 0% | 5" | 0.1 lb | 2009 |
| 8 | Tamarack Lake | C+ | 235 | 2.3/net in gill nets | 17% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Fond du Lac Reservoir | C | 201 | 1.2/net in gill nets | 50% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2015 |
| 10 | Moose Lake | C | 133 | 10.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2009 |
Also ranked in Carlton County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota
Grades are based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.