Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Clearwater County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 24 lakes in Clearwater County. The 7 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.
Minerva Lake is first at B. The DNR caught 4.3 walleye per gill net in the 2016 survey, and the biggest was 29 inches. Elk Lake is second at B, with 4.7 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 33% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Long Lost Lake is third at B, and its biggest walleye was 29 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minerva Lake | B | 230 | 4.3/net in gill nets | 81% | 29" | 4.1 lb | 2016 |
| 2 | Elk Lake | B | 303 | 4.7/net in gill nets | 33% | 25" | 1.9 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Long Lost Lake | B | 539 | 2.1/net in gill nets | 81% | 29" | 3.8 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Itasca Lake | B− | 1,065 | 2.4/net in gill nets | 27% | 24" | 2.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Big LaSalle Lake | B− | 235 | 4.8/net in gill nets | 20% | 22" | 1.7 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Pine Lake | C+ | 1,236 | 1.3/net in gill nets | 42% | 26" | 2.6 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Minnow Lake | C+ | 110 | — | 0% | 11" | 0.5 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Clearwater County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye 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.