Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Jackson County
12 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Jackson County; the 8 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.
Round Lake leads at grade A, with 34.6 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Rush Lake is next at A, 58 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2007 survey, 49% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Heron (South Heron) 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 | Round Lake | A | 930 | 34.6/net in gill nets | 14% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Rush Lake | A | 243 | 58/net in gill nets | 49% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2007 |
| 3 | Heron (South Heron) Lake | A | 2,641 | 25.8/net in gill nets | 4% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Little Spirit Lake | B+ | 624 | 13.3/net in gill nets | 13% | 11" | 0.3 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Loon Lake | B | 708 | 3.3/net in gill nets | 38% | 11" | 0.4 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Fish Lake | B− | 297 | 19.7/net in gill nets | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Pearl Lake | C | 117 | 1/net in gill nets | 67% | 10" | 0.4 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Timber Lake | C− | 191 | 4/net in gill nets | 0% | 7" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
Also ranked in Jackson County: Walleye · Northern pike · Crappie
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.