Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Lyon County
13 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Lyon County; the 10 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.
School Grove Lake leads at grade A−, with 42.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 23-inch fish the biggest measured. Cottonwood Lake is next at A−, 19.5 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 9% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. East Twin Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 22-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School Grove Lake | A− | 349 | 42.5/net in gill nets | 20% | 23" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cottonwood Lake | A− | 383 | 19.5/net in gill nets | 9% | 26" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | East Twin Lake | B+ | 357 | 12.7/net in gill nets | 29% | 22" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Rock Lake | B+ | 379 | 9.3/net in gill nets | 3% | 28" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Goose Lake | B+ | 150 | 10/net in gill nets | 25% | 26" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 6 | Yankton Lake | B+ | 403 | 16/net in gill nets | 0% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | Wood Lake | B | 373 | 12.3/net in gill nets | 0% | 16" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | West Twin Lake | B− | 220 | 3/net in gill nets | 93% | 26" | 5.1 lb | 2024 |
| 9 | Island Lake | C+ | 170 | — | 100% | 22" | 5 lb | 2024 |
| 10 | Lady Slipper Lake | C | 286 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 0% | 18" | 0.8 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Lyon County: Northern pike · Crappie · 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.