Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Lyon County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 13 lakes in Lyon County. The 10 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.
School Grove Lake is first at A−. The DNR caught 42.5 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and the biggest was 23 inches. Cottonwood Lake is second at A−, with 19.5 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 9% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Rock Lake is third at A−, and its biggest walleye was 28 inches.
| # | 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 | 33% | 23" | 2.1 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Cottonwood Lake | A− | 383 | 19.5/net in gill nets | 9% | 26" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Rock Lake | A− | 379 | 9.3/net in gill nets | 20% | 28" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | East Twin Lake | B+ | 357 | 12.7/net in gill nets | 29% | 22" | 1.9 lb | 2024 |
| 5 | Yankton Lake | B+ | 403 | 16/net in gill nets | 0% | 19" | 2.2 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Goose Lake | B+ | 150 | 10/net in gill nets | 25% | 26" | 1.6 lb | 2023 |
| 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 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.