Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Lake County
155 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Lake County; 74 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.
Basswood Lake leads at grade A+, with 15.4 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 29-inch fish the biggest measured. Crooked Lake is next at A, 6.7 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 8% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Ensign Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 30-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basswood Lake | A+ | 25,953 | 15.4/net in gill nets | 15% | 29" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Crooked Lake | A | 10,360 | 6.7/net in gill nets | 8% | 29" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Ensign Lake | A | 1,411 | 12.1/net in gill nets | 6% | 30" | 1.2 lb | 2023 |
| 4 | Moose Lake | A | 1,301 | 10.7/net in gill nets | 16% | 28" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Wilson Lake | A | 650 | 20.4/net in gill nets | 13% | 26" | 1.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Thomas Lake | A | 1,465 | 13.7/net in gill nets | 22% | 25" | 2.4 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Newfound Lake | A− | 643 | 7.9/net in gill nets | 46% | 29" | 3.1 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Perent Lake | A− | 1,598 | 16.9/net in gill nets | 2% | 26" | 0.7 lb | 2019 |
| 9 | Fall Lake | A− | 2,259 | 16.7/net in gill nets | 2% | 25" | 0.6 lb | 2022 |
| 10 | Birch Lake | A− | 836 | 16.5/net in gill nets | 11% | 26" | 1.7 lb | 2017 |
Also ranked in Lake 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.