Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best yellow perch lakes in Lyon County
14 surveyed yellow perch lakes sit in Lyon County; 12 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. The top 10 are ranked here.
Cottonwood Lake leads at grade A+, with 97.2 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey and a 12-inch fish the biggest measured. Yankton Lake is next at A, 82.3 yellow perch per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 22% of the yellow perch netted over 9 inches. Wood Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 12-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 9" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cottonwood Lake | A+ | 383 | 97.2/net in gill nets | 21% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 2 | Yankton Lake | A | 403 | 82.3/net in gill nets | 22% | 11" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Wood Lake | A | 373 | 28/net in gill nets | 79% | 12" | 0.5 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Lake of the Hill | A | 147 | 90/net in gill nets | 20% | 10" | 0.2 lb | 2022 |
| 5 | McKay Lake | B+ | 167 | 15/net in gill nets | 55% | 12" | 0.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Rock Lake | B+ | 379 | 8.7/net in gill nets | 40% | 9" | 0.2 lb | 2025 |
| 7 | West Twin Lake | B | 220 | 81/net in gill nets | 0% | 8" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
| 8 | Goose Lake | B | 150 | 5/net in gill nets | 17% | 12" | 0.2 lb | 2023 |
| 9 | Lady Slipper Lake | B− | 286 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 50% | 10" | 0.3 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | Island Lake | B− | 170 | 35/net in gill nets | 0% | 6" | 0.1 lb | 2024 |
Also ranked in Lyon County: Walleye · Northern pike · Crappie
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.