Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Carver County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 28 lakes in Carver County. The 10 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Swede Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 85.5 yellow perch per gill net in the 2021 survey, and the biggest was 10 inches. Waconia Lake is second at B, with 10 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and none of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Eagle 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 | 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 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.