Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Cottonwood County
12 surveyed yellow perch 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.
Bingham Lake leads at grade A−, with 21.7 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2022 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Bean Lake is next at A−, 23.2 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2020 survey, 18% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Talcot Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 11-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bingham Lake | A− | 270 | 21.7/net in gill nets | 26% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Bean Lake | A− | 164 | 23.2/net in gill nets | 18% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2020 |
| 3 | Talcot Lake | B+ | 873 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 52% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Mountain Lake | B+ | 230 | 13/net in gill nets | 21% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Eagle Lake | B+ | 105 | 26/net in gill nets | 12% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2018 |
| 6 | Cottonwood Lake | B | 155 | 9.7/net in gill nets | 29% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | String Lake | B− | 336 | — | 12% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Double Lake | C− | 240 | 0.7/net in gill nets | 67% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Cottonwood County: Walleye · Crappie
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.