Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Hennepin County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 37 lakes in Hennepin County. Of those, 12 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Minnetonka Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 2.5 walleye per gill net in the 2022 survey, and the biggest was 26 inches. Independence Lake is second at A−, with 6.7 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 46% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Nokomis Lake is third at B+, and its biggest walleye was 24 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnetonka Lake | A− | 14,206 | 2.5/net in gill nets | 38% | 26" | 2.6 lb | 2022 |
| 2 | Independence Lake | A− | 832 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 46% | 28" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Nokomis Lake | B+ | 201 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 24% | 24" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Harriet Lake | B | 341 | 6/net in gill nets | 16% | 26" | 1.6 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Sarah Lake | B | 557 | 3.1/net in gill nets | 72% | 25" | 3.2 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Medicine Lake | B− | 924 | 2.3/net in gill nets | 45% | 25" | 2.5 lb | 2023 |
| 7 | Bryant Lake | B− | 180 | 4.5/net in gill nets | 48% | 26" | 2.7 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Long Lake | B− | 285 | 4/net in gill nets | 14% | 25" | 2.2 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Lake of the Isles | C+ | 114 | — | 0% | 9" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Fish Lake | C+ | 238 | 3.3/net in gill nets | 13% | 25" | 1.4 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Hennepin 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.