Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Kanabec County
11 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Kanabec County; the 6 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.
Knife Lake leads at grade A−, with 14.2 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 10-inch fish the biggest measured. Ann Lake is next at B+, 16.2 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2021 survey, 1% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Lewis Lake rounds out the top three at B, a 9-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knife Lake | A− | 1,259 | 14.2/net in gill nets | 10% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Ann Lake | B+ | 654 | 16.2/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2021 |
| 3 | Lewis Lake | B | 179 | 17.6/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2022 |
| 4 | Fish Lake | B | 506 | 5/net in gill nets | 36% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Quamba Lake | C+ | 226 | 15.8/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 6 | Eleven Lake | C+ | 315 | 12.2/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Kanabec County: Walleye · Northern pike · Largemouth 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.