Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Lincoln County
10 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Lincoln 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.
Benton Lake leads at grade A, with 12.8 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 28-inch fish the biggest measured. Shaokotan Lake is next at A, 16.7 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 11% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Dead Coon (Main Lake) rounds out the top three at A, a 29-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benton Lake | A | 2,700 | 12.8/net in gill nets | 11% | 28" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Shaokotan Lake | A | 996 | 16.7/net in gill nets | 11% | 28" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Dead Coon (Main Lake) | A | 547 | 15/net in gill nets | 10% | 29" | 1.6 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Hendricks Lake | A− | 1,522 | 12.8/net in gill nets | 6% | 26" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Steep Bank Lake | B+ | 199 | 16/net in gill nets | 11% | 26" | 2.6 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Popowski Lake | B+ | 143 | 13/net in gill nets | 45% | 26" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Perch Lake | B+ | 246 | 5.5/net in gill nets | 71% | 28" | 4.4 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Stay Lake | B | 221 | 5/net in gill nets | 70% | 27" | 4.2 lb | 2025 |
Also ranked in Lincoln County: Northern pike · 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.