Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Cook County
220 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Cook County; 44 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.
Clearwater Lake leads at grade A, with 14.5 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Elbow Lake is next at A−, 36.3 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 7% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. White Pine Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearwater Lake | A | 1,344 | 14.5/net in gill nets | 31% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Elbow Lake | A− | 408 | 36.3/net in gill nets | 7% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | White Pine Lake | A− | 346 | 21/net in gill nets | 28% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Toohey Lake | A− | 370 | 16/net in gill nets | 54% | 12" | 0.4 lb | 2020 |
| 5 | Rice Lake | A− | 223 | 23/net in gill nets | 16% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | Christine Lake | A− | 184 | 21.7/net in gill nets | 19% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Crocodile Lake | A− | 295 | 14.7/net in gill nets | 19% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2014 |
| 8 | Star Lake | B+ | 107 | 21.2/net in gill nets | 8% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Greenwood Lake | B+ | 2,043 | 2.8/net in gill nets | 100% | 12" | 0.8 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | John Lake | B+ | 191 | 16.2/net in gill nets | 6% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2016 |
Also ranked in Cook County: Walleye · Northern pike · Smallmouth 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.