Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Hennepin County
The DNR has surveyed yellow perch in 53 lakes in Hennepin County. Of those, 14 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.
Independence Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 30.5 yellow perch per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 9 inches. Harriet Lake is second at B+, with 17.8 yellow perch per gill net in the 2024 survey, and 2% of its yellow perch measured over 9 inches. Twin Lake is third at B, and its biggest yellow perch was 10 inches.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independence Lake | A− | 832 | 30.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Harriet Lake | B+ | 341 | 17.8/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 3 | Twin Lake | B | 217 | 9.8/net in gill nets | 1% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2018 |
| 4 | Nokomis Lake | B | 201 | 42.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 5 | Minnetonka Lake | B− | 14,206 | 3.1/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 6 | Eagle Lake | B− | 296 | 16/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Whaletail Lake | B− | 510 | 13.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 8 | Mitchell Lake | C+ | 114 | — | 0% | 8" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Rebecca Lake | C+ | 263 | — | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 10 | Snelling Lake | C+ | 103 | 5/net in gill nets | 10% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2017 |
Also ranked in Hennepin County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill
All of Minnesota: Best yellow perch 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.