Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Itasca County
202 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Itasca County; 66 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. The top 10 are ranked here.
Pokegama Lake leads at grade A, with 7.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Deer Lake is next at A, 6.1 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 24% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Island Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 25-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokegama Lake | A | 6,721 | 7.5/net in gill nets | 34% | 27" | 2.5 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Deer Lake | A | 4,094 | 6.1/net in gill nets | 24% | 27" | 2 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Island Lake | A | 3,108 | 13.9/net in gill nets | 12% | 25" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Round Lake | A | 2,860 | 12/net in gill nets | 16% | 25" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Bowstring Lake | A− | 9,528 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 4% | 24" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Siseebakwet Lake | A− | 1,210 | 29.8/net in gill nets | 6% | 23" | 1.1 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Swan Lake | A− | 2,456 | 7.3/net in gill nets | 13% | 27" | 1.3 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Turtle Lake | A− | 2,126 | 4.8/net in gill nets | 27% | 29" | 2.2 lb | 2017 |
| 9 | Little Winnibigoshish Lake | A− | 1,002 | 12.5/net in gill nets | 7% | 26" | 1.1 lb | 2017 |
| 10 | Trout Lake | A− | 1,862 | 8.3/net in gill nets | 22% | 24" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Itasca County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.