Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Grant County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 9 lakes in Grant County. The 8 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Barrett Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 24.5 walleye per gill net in the 2023 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Pelican Lake is second at A, with 8.1 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 26% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Pomme de Terre Lake is third at A, and its biggest walleye was 27 inches.
| # | 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 | Elk Lake | A− | 207 | 14.7/net in gill nets | 23% | 27" | 1.8 lb | 2021 |
| 5 | Lightning Lake | A− | 541 | 25.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 20" | 0.7 lb | 2023 |
| 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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.