Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Cook County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 160 lakes in Cook County. Of those, 60 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Saganaga Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 2.5 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 29 inches. Swamp Lake is second at A−, with 32.5 walleye per gill net in the 2022 survey, and 11% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Brule Lake is third at A−, and its biggest walleye was 24 inches.
| # | 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 | Swamp Lake | A− | 181 | 32.5/net in gill nets | 11% | 23" | 1.6 lb | 2022 |
| 3 | Brule Lake | A− | 4,327 | 5.3/net in gill nets | 13% | 24" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Elbow Lake | A− | 408 | 12.1/net in gill nets | 16% | 26" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Toohey Lake | B+ | 370 | 34.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 26" | 1 lb | 2020 |
| 6 | Sea Gull Lake | B+ | 3,958 | 1.9/net in gill nets | 30% | 30" | 2.4 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Elbow Lake | B+ | 528 | 21/net in gill nets | 3% | 21" | 1.2 lb | 2022 |
| 8 | Four Mile Lake | B+ | 593 | 12.1/net in gill nets | 3% | 26" | 0.9 lb | 2021 |
| 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 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.