Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Carver County
28 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Carver County; the 10 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.
Swede Lake leads at grade A, with 85.5 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2021 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Waconia Lake is next at B, 10 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 0% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Eagle 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 | Swede Lake | A | 433 | 85.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 2 | Waconia Lake | B | 3,080 | 10/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Eagle Lake | B− | 183 | — | 100% | 9" | 0.4 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Minnewashta Lake | C+ | 680 | — | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Wassermann Lake | C | 170 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lotus Lake | C | 245 | 5.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Hydes Lake | C | 222 | 6/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
| 8 | Parley Lake | C | 258 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Riley Lake | C− | 296 | 3.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Virginia Lake | C− | 105 | 4.6/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2009 |
Also ranked in Carver 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.