Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Grant County
9 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Grant 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.
Barrett Lake leads at grade A, with 24.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 28-inch fish the biggest measured. Pelican Lake is next at A, 8.1 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 26% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Pomme de Terre Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 27-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrett Lake | A | 530 | 24.5/net in gill nets | 10% | 28" | 1.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Pelican Lake | A | 3,761 | 8.1/net in gill nets | 26% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Pomme de Terre Lake | A | 1,816 | 11.9/net in gill nets | 17% | 27" | 1.3 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Lightning Lake | A− | 541 | 25.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 20" | 0.7 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Elk Lake | A− | 207 | 14.7/net in gill nets | 23% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | Cottonwood Lake | A− | 255 | 10/net in gill nets | 61% | 27" | 3.3 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Thompson Lake | B+ | 154 | 9/net in gill nets | 86% | 26" | 3.9 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Graham Lake | C+ | 138 | — | 0% | 15" | 0.9 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Grant County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · 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.