Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Cook County
160 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Cook County; 60 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.
Saganaga Lake leads at grade A, with 2.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 29-inch fish the biggest measured. Brule Lake is next at A−, 5.3 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 13% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Swamp Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 23-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saganaga Lake | A | 18,767 | 2.5/net in gill nets | 12% | 29" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Brule Lake | A− | 4,327 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 13% | 24" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Swamp Lake | A− | 181 | 32.5/net in gill nets | 11% | 23" | 1.6 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Elbow Lake | A− | 408 | 12.1/net in gill nets | 16% | 26" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Toohey Lake | A− | 370 | 34.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 26" | 1 lb | 2020 |
| 6 | Four Mile Lake | B+ | 593 | 12.1/net in gill nets | 3% | 26" | 0.9 lb | 2021 |
| 7 | Sea Gull Lake | B+ | 3,958 | 1.9/net in gill nets | 30% | 30" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Elbow Lake | B+ | 528 | 21/net in gill nets | 3% | 21" | 1.2 lb | 2022 |
| 9 | Deer Yard Lake | B+ | 343 | 14.9/net in gill nets | 1% | 29" | 0.5 lb | 2018 |
| 10 | Two Island Lake | B+ | 754 | 8.6/net in gill nets | 10% | 24" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Cook County: Northern pike · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye 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.