Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Lincoln County
12 surveyed yellow perch 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.
Hendricks Lake leads at grade A, with 47.9 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Benton Lake is next at A, 14.8 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 27% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Popowski 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 | Hendricks Lake | A | 1,522 | 47.9/net in gill nets | 7% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Benton Lake | A | 2,700 | 14.8/net in gill nets | 27% | 12" | 0.3 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Popowski Lake | A | 143 | 113/net in gill nets | 16% | 10" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Shaokotan Lake | A− | 996 | 77.3/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Dead Coon (Main Lake) | A− | 547 | 15/net in gill nets | 80% | 11" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Perch Lake | A− | 246 | 66.6/net in gill nets | 1% | 9" | 0.1 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Stay Lake | B+ | 221 | 12/net in gill nets | 11% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Steep Bank Lake | B | 199 | 17/net in gill nets | 1% | 13" | 0.1 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Lincoln County: Walleye · Northern pike
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.