Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Carlton County
33 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Carlton County; 12 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.
Eagle Lake leads at grade B+, with 10.4 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Park Lake is next at B, 5.1 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 14% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Moosehead Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | 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 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.