Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Cottonwood County
10 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Cottonwood County; the 8 ranked here 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.
Talcot Lake leads at grade A−, with 23 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 26-inch fish the biggest measured. Mountain Lake is next at B+, 14 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 16% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Bean Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 26-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talcot Lake | A− | 873 | 23/net in gill nets | 3% | 26" | 0.9 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Mountain Lake | B+ | 230 | 14/net in gill nets | 16% | 24" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Bean Lake | B+ | 164 | 12.5/net in gill nets | 24% | 26" | 2.9 lb | 2020 |
| 4 | Eagle Lake | B+ | 105 | 29/net in gill nets | 0% | 19" | 1.1 lb | 2018 |
| 5 | Bingham Lake | B | 270 | 6.3/net in gill nets | 48% | 25" | 3.2 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Double Lake | B | 240 | 7.7/net in gill nets | 29% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | String Lake | C+ | 336 | — | 0% | 12" | — | 2023 |
| 8 | Cottonwood Lake | C | 155 | 3.7/net in gill nets | 7% | 24" | 1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Cottonwood County: Crappie · 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.