Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Itasca County
321 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Itasca County; 106 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.
Island Lake leads at grade A+, with 67.9 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 11-inch fish the biggest measured. Shallow Pond is next at A, 62 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2017 survey, 28% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Jessie Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 10-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island Lake | A+ | 3,108 | 67.9/net in gill nets | 6% | 11" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Shallow Pond | A | 225 | 62/net in gill nets | 28% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2017 |
| 3 | Jessie Lake | A | 1,740 | 75.4/net in gill nets | 3% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Little Bowstring Lake | A | 327 | 116.5/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | Round Lake | A | 2,860 | 15.9/net in gill nets | 17% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Bowstring Lake | A | 9,528 | 7.8/net in gill nets | 10% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Upper Panasa Lake | A | 148 | 130.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 10" | — | 2014 |
| 8 | Deer Lake | A− | 4,094 | 10.5/net in gill nets | 13% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Cut Foot Sioux Lake | A− | 2,771 | 22.1/net in gill nets | 2% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Sand Lake | A− | 3,579 | 10.8/net in gill nets | 6% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Itasca County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth 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.