Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Freeborn County
8 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Freeborn County; the 7 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.
Pickeral Lake leads at grade A+, with 63 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2013 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Albert Lea Lake is next at A−, 18.3 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2021 survey, 2% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Bear Lake rounds out the top three at A−, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pickeral Lake | A+ | 588 | 63/net in gill nets | 22% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2013 |
| 2 | Albert Lea Lake | A− | 2,669 | 18.3/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Bear Lake | A− | 1,033 | 38/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2009 |
| 4 | Fountain Lake | A− | 522 | 56.6/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Freeborn Lake | B+ | 2,034 | 8.1/net in gill nets | 6% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | State Line Lake | B | 372 | — | 69% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2017 |
| 7 | White Lake | C+ | 168 | 13/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2015 |
Also ranked in Freeborn County: Northern pike · 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.