Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Grant County
8 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Grant County; the 6 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.
Lower Elk Lake leads at grade B+, with 35 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey and a 9-inch fish the biggest measured. Lightning Lake is next at B+, 7 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 20% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Pelican Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 14-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower Elk Lake | B+ | 131 | 35/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 2 | Lightning Lake | B+ | 541 | 7/net in gill nets | 20% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Pelican Lake | B | 3,761 | 4.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 14" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Pomme de Terre Lake | C+ | 1,816 | 5.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Elk Lake | C | 207 | 5.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 6 | Barrett Lake | C− | 530 | 2/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Grant County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
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.