Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Lincoln County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 10 lakes in Lincoln County. The 8 ranked below are the ones that earn a grade on this site. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Benton Lake is first at A. The DNR caught 12.8 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Shaokotan Lake is second at A, with 16.7 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 39% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Dead Coon (Main Lake) is third at A, and its biggest walleye was 29 inches.
| # | 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 | 31% | 28" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Shaokotan Lake | A | 996 | 16.7/net in gill nets | 39% | 28" | 2.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Dead Coon (Main Lake) | A | 547 | 15/net in gill nets | 12% | 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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.